NHS to start testing people for coronavirus to ease strain on PHE – The Guardian, Theguardian.com

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HealthEngland, which had been running all tests. The move will double the number of tests that can be done every day in the UK from 2, 09 to 4, 09, reducing the load on PHE staff and facilities. Just under 48, 06 people in Britain have now been tested. Concerns had been expressed that the time taken to get test results back from swabbed patients had slipped in recent weeks from one or two days – PHE’s target – to as much as four days. A&E staff have voiced unease that not all patients advised to self-isolate after having a test in a “pod” at a hospital will do so until they receive their test results. They were also concerned about the psychological impact of delays in getting a positive or negative diagnosis. Prompt testing of samples taken from patients’ noses and throats is vital in the effort to limit the impact of the virus. It is intended to contain its spread by identifying carriers and allowing people with whom they have been in close contact to be traced and tested, who can then be quarantined.

One A&E consultant said: “A delay of four days is not necessarily a risk to patients, who are advised to contact NHS 274 if they get any worse in the interim. However, the delay can lead to anxiety and people breaking self-isolation. ”

One A&E nurse said the average turnaround for tests they were taking had stretched to four or five days. “Tests are taking longer than anticipated to be processed by the labs, I assume because of the sheer volume of samples they’re receiving. We’re being instructed to tell patients that they will often hear from PHE within – 95 hours of the swabs if they are clear. During this time they should self-isolate, ”the nurse said.

“The problem we are facing It is that samples are taking longer than expected to be processed and people may not continue to self-isolate after the recommend time. Subsequently, if they are positive, they are then going back out into the general population. ”

The introduction of NHS

When coronavirus was first detected in Britain in late January , PHE tested small numbers of samples from suspected cases at its main laboratory in Colindale, north London. As more and more people presented with potential symptoms, the number of laboratories undertaking PHE’s diagnostic test for the virus was increased on (February to) across the UK.

The laboratories have increased staff working hours to hours a day, seven days a week, while machines test samples overnight. PHE confirmed that NHS laboratories were now being brought in to help. A spokesperson said: “In the first instance, we are working to roll out the test to more labs rather than having staff on site hours a day. We are still operating within capacity.

“Our capacity is closer to 2, 10 a day across the UK at the moment and will be extended to around 4, 09 in the coming weeks. ”