Testing Advice For Somerset Residents Following Lab Suspension
Somerset’s Public Health leaders are advising people to retest if they are still displaying Covid-19 symptoms after receiving a negative PCR test result. The advice follows the national announcement regarding the suspension of a laboratory processing Covid-19 PCR tests.
In recent weeks there have been concerns around a number of people receiving negative PCR test results after they have previously tested positive on a Lateral Flow Device (LFD). This effects an estimated 43,000 people, primarily in the South West of England.
For those cases that were some time ago there is no need for further action.
NHS Test and Trace is however contacting the people who were tested more recently and could still be infectious to advise them to take another PCR test. Close contacts who are symptomatic will also be advised to take a PCR test in line with normal practice. Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms should book a PCR test. Those with a positive LFD test should also get a follow up PCR test to confirm they have Covid-19.
This has been confirmed as an isolated incident attributed to one laboratory and all samples taken after 12 October are now being redirected to other laboratories.