Written question asked by Earl Attlee (Conservative) on Monday, 30 November 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 December 2020. It was answered by Lord Bethell (Conservative) on Monday, 15 March 2021 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Coronavirus: Screening

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they, or their agencies, regularly determine the operational false positive rates for polymerase chain reaction tests carried out at each laboratory undertaking analysis for mass COVID-19 testing; whether they use an ‘end to end’ method to audit those rates; if not, what methodology they use to make such determinations; and whether those methods include inserting samples into the system that cannot be positive.

Answer: Currently samples are not placed into the system to test operational sensitivity. The Department has undertaken substantial work with Porton Down and the Milton Keynes Lighthouse Laboratory to conduct temperature and long-term stability experiments on sample collection kits to ensure swabs meet an appropriate standard for testing.

Secondary information