Swab tests halted over fears kits may be unsafe

Coronavirus tests used by the NHS may be unsafe and have been halted, the Government has announced. Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said that swabs in test kits, made by Northern Irish diagnostics firm Randox, have been found to have no CE health and safety mark, and when checked, were not up to standard. Tests have been paused until further notice and the Department of Health said replacement kits would be sent out ‘‘as soon as possible’’. ‘We’ve identified some test swabs that are not up to the usual high standard that we expect and we’ll be carrying out further testing of this batch,’’ Hancock said.