43,000 Britons got wrong COVID-19 test results

An estimate of 43,000 people may have been given wrong negative PCR COVID-19 test results in Britain, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. The Agency said testing operations provided by Immensa Health Clinic at its laboratory in Wolverhampton have been suspended.

The Agency narrated that it happened after an investigation into reports of people receiving negative PCR test results after they have previously tested positive on a lateral flow. The errors was related to the test results given to people between Sept. 8 and Oct.12, mainly in the South West of England but with some cases in the South East and Wales. However, there are no technical issues with test kits themselves and people can continue to test as normal.

UKHSA said a full investigation is being carried out into why and how incorrect results were given. The government's NHS Test and Trace service has estimated around 400,000 samples that have been processed through the lab, but new samples has been redirected to other labs. Test and Trace has been contacting people who are still infectious to advise them to take another test.

Close contacts who are symptomatic were advised to take a test, as is already recommended. PCR tests can detect Covid-19 several weeks after infection. Person with a positive lateral flow result, were advised to have a follow-up PCR to confirm the finding.