LONDON - A laboratory testing for COVID-19 in central England has been temporarily closed over concerns it has incorrectly given negative PCR test results to people who are actually infected, the UK's Health Safety Administration (UKHSA) said.
The government's agency for COVID-19 tracking and prevention, NHS Test and Trace, launched an investigation into one of the laboratories in Wolverhampton after reports emerged that people had negative PCR tests after the LFD rapid test kits came back positive.
Government advisers say the PCR test is more accurate than the LFD, and residents can end their self-isolation period if the LFD test result is positive followed by a negative PCR test result.
The UKHSA said about 43,000 people may have had a false negative PCR test result, the majority in South West England.
This possibility lowers the estimate of the number of people infected with the coronavirus between September 8-12 October.
"We immediately suspended testing at this laboratory while continuing to investigate," said Dr Will Welfare, Director of Public Health Events.
"There is no evidence of damage to the LFD or PCR test kits themselves and the public must remain confident in using these tools and trust services in other laboratories."
Immensa Health Clinic, which manages the laboratory, said it was "in close coordination" with UKHSA on the investigation.
UKHSA said the case was a separate incident in one laboratory. The samples are now being transferred to a number of other laboratories.
UKHSA added that the Immensa laboratories constitute only a small part of the national network, so the overall availability of testing has no impact and people with a positive LDF test result will have to confirm it again with a PCR test.
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