The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Scotland to receive share of quick tests
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed Scotland would receive a share of new coronavirus tests that promise results within 90 minutes – but it is not clear when they will be ready.
The UK Department of Health and Social Care announced faster swab and DNA tests to detect both Covid-19 and flu will be rolled out in hospitals, care homes and laboratories.
Ms Sturgeon said the breakthrough is “very welcome” and could speed up the country’s Test and Protect programme, as Health Secretary Jeane Freeman confirmed talks with the UK Government mean Scotland will receive a “population share” of the new tests.
Before they are used in Scotland, Ms Freeman said scientists will study their effectiveness and accuracy then compare them with the current polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests that produce results within 48 hours.
Ms Sturgeon said: “We’re in discussions with the UK Government -– there will be a portion of them for use in Scotland but we are having these discussions right now.
“We will also want to make sure our own clinical advisers look carefully at the accuracy and the efficacy of these tests but anything that speeds up the diagnosis of Covid-19 and then allows the whole contact tracing procedure to be speeded up is certainly welcome.”
Ms Freeman said: “We’re currently in discussions with the UK Government and will receive a share – a population share of those tests.
“They certainly offer advantages but we need to be sure – and this is where our clinical and scientific advisers will assist us – that the 90-minute test is as good as the current PCR tests, the one we currently use with the swabs.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton urged Ms Freeman to set out when Scots suspected of having Covid-19 will have access to the faster testing options.
He said: “Being able to test for both coronavirus and the seasonal flu and have results within 90 minutes could be a huge boost in the battle to contain Covid-19.
“By deploying these machines to care homes and schools, as well as medical facilities, people would be able to get results while they wait, rather than having to wait up to 48 hours.”