British firm will supply two million rapid tests for coronavirus

The Government has ordered two million of the first British-manufactured rapid lateral flow antigen tests for Covid-19 to be validated by Public Health England, for use in asymptomatic testing.
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Derby-based company SureScreen Diagnostics will provide the tests, which give results in under 30 minutes, by Friday, with the potential to provide millions more in the coming months.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: "It is excellent to be working with a UK firm to deliver millions of these rapid tests, which are being deployed across the country to help protect our communities and most vital public services.

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"Roughly one in three people with Covid-19 don't display symptoms, meaning you can infect others unknowingly. This is why asymptomatic testing is so crucial in our fight against the virus, and why I'm so grateful to see the British diagnostics industry use their ingenuity and expertise in our shared purpose to protect our communities."

Matt HancockMatt Hancock
Matt Hancock

David Campbell, director of SureScreen, said: "We believe our rapid antigen tests can really help in screening people both in the community and in clinical settings. Routine testing is crucial to help business and schools as well as hospitals and GPs.

"We are delighted to be working with DHSC on this project and that our tests have been recognised by the Government and its scientists. We look forward to doing all we can to help the UK going forward in 2021."

NHS Test and Trace is deploying hundreds of thousands of rapid tests to identify asymptomatic cases in care homes, across the NHS, in critical infrastructure workplaces and food manufacturers, and in partnership with local directors of public health.

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In addition to this, the Government’s community testing programme is providing asymptomatic testing through local authorities across the UK.

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