Lab switches supply of coronavirus testing kits to frontline health workers

A Warrington testing laboratory has pledged to provide frontline health workers with its first supply of testing kits that can detect the presence of the Covid-19 infection within 15 minutes.

Earlier this week Alphabiolabs said it was making the kits available to its customers.

But today, it said it has been so “shocked and saddened” to receive so many desperate enquiries from frontline organisations, such as the NHS, needing the coronavirus COVID-19 screening test because there is currently little or no provision in place, that it is giving its initial stocks to the NHS at cost price.

In a statement it said: “We initially ordered the COVID-19 screening test in advance to support our workplace customers, helping with testing their workforce to keep supply chain businesses operational during this unpredictable time.

“However, in light of what is happening nationwide we have pledged all of our initial stocks to the NHS at cost price.

“We are therefore in the process of contacting all customers affected to inform them of a delay to their orders.”

It added: “We were encouraged by Boris Johnson’s speech on Thursday 19th  March, when he announced they were dedicating extra resource to set up a mass testing and screening programme.

“We understand and acknowledge that screening testing devices are known and accepted by scientists to not be as accurate as laboratory confirmatory testing, however, they are excellent in providing a reliable, rapid, cost-effective means to quickly identity COVID-19 infection, which is what is required at this current time.”