‘Lost’ and delayed PCRs ruin Christmas for some

DUNDONIANS have claimed their Christmases were ruined by delayed PCR Covid test results.

Several people have complained they had to cancel their festive plans and selfisolate as they awaited confirmation of a test result taken at Dudhope Castle.

The government says results usually take two days to arrive but warn the wait can be longer.

A Dundee woman told us anonymously: “I’m pregnant and am already feeling really anxious – I’ve been sitting by my phone waiting on the text.

“I went to Dudhope Castle on the 23rd to get a PCR as my brother had tested positive on lateral flow tests and I was a close contact.

“He went that day in a separate car to be tested but he hasn’t had his back yet either.

“We had to cancel our Christmas plans to be safe, but it’s really hard on my mental health not knowing.

“When I phoned up about it, the woman at Test & Trace said the results might not be found.”

Another Dundonian woman who also went to Dudhope Castle on December 23 confirmed she is also still waiting for her results.

She added: “I took a lateral flow last Thursday after feeling poorly and it came back positive.

“With that, I booked a PCR test and we assumed it would take around 24 hours for the results.

“Christmas Eve came and went and we’d still heard nothing, I was still taking lateral flow tests and they were coming back with a positive result.

“When Christmas Day arrived there was still no sign of the results and we took the decision to cancel our plans with family.”

Yesterday, Scotland recorded more than 10,500 new cases, a decrease from Boxing Day, but still only the second time more than 10,000 have been recorded in one day.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told of a lag in results in her Twitter feed, prompting people to comment they and their families had experienced a delay after being tested on December 23.

Test results have been delayed.