14/01/2021
COVID TESTING LAW CHANGE
The government started rolling out rapid antigen testing on Monday. Previously, they have not been complimentary about rapid testing, and they were not seen as reliable diagnostic tools 🙄
Therefore, the results were not mandatory to report to PHE and could be used by private testers. This has changed. ANY antigen (or PCR) testing results must now be reported. Sadly, this essentially means that there is no longer any such thing as a private result.
Due to the legal requirement to report results to PHE, ALL sample takers must abide by UKAS rules. This is an expensive process and must involve a GMC registered professional to oversee. It is now a CRIMINAL OFFENCE to offer COVID testing without a UKAS registration.
As far as I am aware, this only affects antigen and PCR testing, and does not affect antibody finger prick testing. So I believe that antibody testing can continue...