NONE of the 17.5 million antibody tests ordered by the UK Government in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic works, it has been revealed.
According to the Financial Times, ministers had hoped the tests – which are aimed at showing if someone has previously contracted the virus and could be immune – would give a clearer picture of how many people had been infected.
This could have paved the way for the gradual easing of lockdown restrictions.
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Researchers at Oxford University were assessing the tests, but all have proven unreliable.
Professor John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at the university, wrote on Monday: “Sadly, the tests we have looked at to date have not performed well.
“We see many false negatives (tests where no antibody is detected despite the fact we know it is there) and we also see false positives.
“None of the tests we have validated would meet the criteria for a good test as agreed with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
“This is not a good result for test suppliers or for us.”
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