Accuracy of lateral flow tests needs to be reviewed urgently

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is right to raise concerns about lateral flow tests (LFTs) and the false reassurance they may provide to those who receive a negative result (UK health regulator concerned over use of rapid coronavirus tests, 25 April). There has been no sustained effort to find out what percentage of negative LFT results show up as positive on a PCR test in schoolchildren, or when used at home for mass testing. This uncertainty will be exacerbated as more people use them, as they have been encouraged to twice a week. The evidence suggests that LFTs miss too many infected cases to be used to rule out infection, which limits their usefulness.

The government should urgently gather more evidence on their accuracy, by carrying out evaluations using double testing with LFT and PCR tests. It should also be clear in its communications about what is known about the tests’ effectiveness, and how positive and negative LFT results should be interpreted. A strong, well-articulated evidence base is an essential prerequisite for an effective testing regime.Prof Sylvia Richardson President, Royal Statistical Society,Prof Jon Deeks University of Birmingham

On behalf of the Royal Statistical Society Covid-19 taskforce

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