‘Processing delay’ row, with claim figures to be treated with caution

A row has broken out over a supposed “testing capacity issue” with the UK Government Lighthouse Facility in Glasgow.

More than 60,000 tests from across the UK, including Scotland, were rerouted at the weekend to other testing sites in the UK and Northern Ireland, including ones from regional test centres.

The Scottish Government said it was notified “late last week” of a “testing capacity” issue with the Lighthouse facility.

Officials have said they are “urgently” trying to establish with the UK Government what exactly is causing the delay in testing but said it is “mainly due to demand from outwith Scotland.”

It is thought the issue will have affected the numbers reported over the weekend, when 316 new Scottish cases were reported yesterday and no new deaths.

On Saturday, however, Scotland recorded a further 15 coronavirus deaths and 1,167 new cases.

In a statement, the Scottish Government said: “It is important to note the majority of these tests are still well within the 24 and 48 - hour timeframe for results, albeit we do expect to see an increase in the level of positives on Monday and Tuesday when the results are reported.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Today’s figure for positive Covid cases should be treated with some caution due to a processing delay within the UK lab system.”

But last night a UK Government spokesman said: “This claim is categorically untrue. There is no capacity issue at Glasgow’s Lighthouse lab facility.

“The Lighthouse lab is a highly efficient lab with the capacity to analyse tens of thousands of samples a day.

“Rerouting tests to other laboratories is a routine practice to ensure timely processing.

“There are now over 500 test sites and mobile testing units in operation across the UK. We are expanding testing capacity rapidly with new lighthouse laboratories as we drive towards our target capacity of 500,000 tests a day by the end of October.”