COVID-19 comment: Testing strategy requires clarity
03 April 2020
Dr Al Edwards, a biomedical technology expert at the University of Reading, said:
“Once again it’s hard to square the suggestions by Matt Hancock with the situation on the ground. Grand pledges won’t help without spreading the load. It’s true that our diagnostic testing experts are working flat out and doing an amazing job - we should ‘clap for testers’ alongside other dedicated essential workers.
"What’s missing is some transparency about the central checking process. We are now hearing about so many local organisations that have tried to set up local testing, only to struggle to know how to coordinate and align their local testing with centralised systems.
“On one hand, standardisation and accuracy is vital, but on the other hand, as with PPE, distributed efforts and ‘all-hands-on-deck’ responses may be the only way to respond to the incredible speed that the current critical situation demands.
“Local labs (private sector, universities and hospitals) can for example set up WHO, PHE or CDC testing protocols - although this does take time- but they need direction and central support to do so.”
Simon Clarke, an associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said:
"The news that we can expect 3.5 million tests for antibodies to the coronavirus is encouraging, but we still have no clarity on when they will be available. This will mean that doctors won't be able to tell who has had the virus and is therefore likely to have some immunity, which would allow them to return to work.
“As a consequence, the NHS won't be able to deploy its workforce to maximum capacity as we approach the peak of the outbreak. If and when an antibody test arrives, it will be important to remember that it will only be able to tell us that someone has had the virus and are unlikely to get it again anytime soon."