NHS gets second test that shows if you’ve had virus
FIVE million coronavirus antibody kits are on standby for NHS use after a second test was approved by health officials.
The new test – produced by medical giant Abbott – has been given the green light as spotting 100 per cent of those who have had the virus.
It is the second antibody test to be ratified in two days, following the approval of a kit made by Roche Diagnostics.
Last night, Abbott said it had already started shipping equipment to NHS laboratories in preparation for the tests to be given to recipients within days.
A spokesman for the firm said it had capacity to provide five million tests a month to the UK ‘with immediate effect’.
They are the first antibody tests to be ratified as accurate by public health chiefs, after weeks of disappointments. The tests detect whether someone has had the virus and then recovered – which could indicate they may be immune.
The Department of Health is in conversations with both firms about incorporating the kits into its testing programme, with NHS staff likely to be first to get access.
The Abbott test is also being sold privately for home use by health tech firm Babylon for £69. Home use of the test – which uses a spot of blood from a finger prick rather than a full blood sample – has been confirmed as accurate only by an independent lab, and not yet by Public Health England.
PHE said the ratification of the two tests, performed in its labs was a ‘very positive development’.
Both are likely to be used in the ‘test, track and trace’ programme being launched next week, in which anyone who has been in contact with a virus patient will be tested.
Scientists last night stressed that although the two tests offer useful information about who has been infected, it is not yet clear what proportion of these people will be immune to the disease.
The idea of ‘immunity certificates’ has been shelved for now because of this, although Number 10 said it was still exploring this.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday welcomed developments on antibody testing.
She said: ‘It is positive news that there is a test which has achieved a high degree of reliability but that is not the whole story, because we still don’t know what the implications of somebody having an antibody response to this virus is – does it mean you have immunity? And how long does that last?’
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: ‘It is very good news indeed.
‘We very much do intend to be part of this and we have the initial planning under way to ensure that as the test becomes available, we can access it and make sure it is used to best effect across the Scottish population.’
It is expected that both tests will eventually be available for free as part of the testing programme, though it is not clear whether people will be able to order them.