[1andrew1]

From the Daily Mail.

British lateral flow tests BANNED in UK despite being cleared by EU

The Government is relying on Chinese suppliers for lateral flow testing kits because most British manufacturers have failed to be cleared for use in the UK, it has been claimed.

Despite millions of pounds of investment to create a world-leading testing programme in the UK, only one British manufacturer has produced a rapid test that meets UK requirements, reports suggest.

It comes as the Government faced widespread criticism over the shortage of lateral flow testing kits over the festive period.

As ministers urged families and friends to test before socialising at Christmas and New Year's events, people were unable to get their hands on kits because they were unavailable.

Pharmacists urged the Government to increase its supply as they said they were forced to send people away empty handed while the Government website frequently said home delivery was unavailable.

Meanwhile, official figures revealed nearly one in 10 NHS workers were off sick over New Year's Eve as coronavirus continued to hit the health service.

According to the Sunday Times, several British companies are frustrated that despite their tests being certified for use in Europe, they have not passed checks in the UK.

The newspaper reports that Omega Diagnostics, based in Stirling, and Global Access Diagnostics, a Bedford-based firm, have produced testing kits that did not pass regulation and so the Government has not placed any orders with them.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknew...?ocid=msedgntp