Covid testing: What to do if you've been given the wrong PCR result

15 October 2021, 11:38

The UK Health Security Agency has said 43,000 negative Covid test results could be incorrect
The UK Health Security Agency has said 43,000 negative Covid test results could be incorrect. Picture: Getty

By James Morris

An estimated 43,000 people may have been given incorrect negative coronavirus test results, the UK Health Security Agency has said.

NHS Test and Trace has suspended testing operations provided by Immensa Health Clinic at its lab in Wolverhampton, following an investigation into reports of people receiving negative PCR test results after previously testing positive on lateral flow devices.

The suspected errors relate to test results given to people between 8 September and 12 October.

Here is what to do if you think you may have been given an incorrect result.

Where are people affected?

Most of the suspected incorrect PCR test results apply to people in the South West of England.

However, people in the South East and Wales are also affected.

The Welsh government said about 4,000 people have been impacted, mainly from the Gwent and Cwm Taf Morgannwg areas.

What should these people do?

They don't need to do anything for now, apart from look out for a call from Test and Trace.

The service is currently contacting the people who could still be infectious and "advising them to take another test".

'Eton Headteacher is doing a lot more to protect his pupils than PM'

What about their close contacts?

The Health Security Agency said contacts "who are symptomatic will also be advised to take a test in line with normal practice".

Is there an issue with the lateral flow and PCR tests?

No. There is no evidence of technical problems with the test kits themselves.

Dr Will Welfare, public health incident director at the Health Security Agency, said it is instead a "laboratory technical issue" on the part of Immensa which led to the inaccurate results being handed out.

What is Immensa's background in Covid testing?

The government awarded Immensa a £119m contract in October last year to urgently "develop volume for PCR testing for Covid in line with test and trace requirements", the contract shows.

The contract did not go to tender under rules allowing urgent responses to the pandemic.

Read more: Cheaper lateral flow tests to replace PCR swabs for tourists in half-term holiday boost

According to the Immensa website, the firm was new to Covid testing.

It said: "In 2020, we adapted and evolved into Covid-19 testing, taking advantage of our laboratory network, scientific expertise, and digital systems to deliver world-leading Covid-19 testing solutions."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Lydia Mugambe

United Nations judge forced woman to work as slave after tricking her to come to UK, court hears

Craig and Lindsay Foreman

Did motorbike couple's 'happiness' survey prompt arrest on spying charges in Iran?

Abdirahman Ibrahim has been convicted of murder after driving into the back of Liam Jones

Killer driver mows down e-bike rider to 'teach him lesson' for doing wheelies

The Vatican says Pope Francis is being treated for 'bilateral pneumonia'

New scans show Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs but Vatican says he remains ‘in good spirits’

Meghan

Meghan Markle could face 'legal action' from Spanish town as her new luxury brand logo faces resemblance to coat of arms

The father of murdered schoolgirl Sara Sharif is reportedly being protected by a 'Muslim gang'

Sara Sharif's father protected by 'Muslim gang' in jail after being attacked with jagged tuna lid

Zhenhao Zou is accused of raping three women in London and 7 in China, whilst they were unconscious

PhD student 'discussed rape role-play' with alleged victim, trial hears

Exclusive
Senior Tories including Suella Braverman and Michael Gove have criticised the judge's comments

Senior Tories blast 'out of touch' judge for 'ludicrous attack' on Starmer’s migrant remarks

Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, died in an airstrike, Hamas said

Bodies of youngest Israeli hostage Kfir Bibas and his brother and mother to be handed over as family ‘in turmoil’

Lisa Smith, 43, was with a female friend when she was killed outside the Three Horseshoes pub in Knockholt, Kent

Man suspected of fatally shooting wife outside pub on Valentine's Day rang friend and said 'she's dead'

Carry On legend Julian Holloway dies aged 80

Carry On legend Julian Holloway dies aged 80 after 'brief illness' as tributes pour in

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned 'any appearance by armed forces under some other flag' in Ukraine would be 'completely unacceptable', in a dig at a peace plan floated by Keir Starmer.

Keir Starmer’s Ukraine peacekeeping plan ‘completely unacceptable’, Russia tells US in Saudi Arabia talks

Rita Lambourne, 58, was “fatally wounded” at her home in Bayencourt South, Bexhill

Man charged with axe murder of woman in own home

Lydia Mugambe is accused of taking 'advantage of her status'

UN judge ‘trafficked woman to UK to be her slave'

Anonymous posters have appeared in Hampstead Heath, a park in north London, calling for gay men to stop using the park for sex.

'Take back Hampstead Heath', dog walkers urged as posters appear calling for men to stop using park for sex

Gavin Nicholls was tackled to the ground by a plain-clothed officer outside the Co-op in Barnet

Moment serial shoplifter is tackled off e-scooter by police as he flees store in north London