Covid test lab errors affect up to 4,000 in Wales
- Published
The health minister said the majority of affected tests were in the Gwent and Cwm Taf Morgannwg areas
About 4,000 people in Wales may have been wrongly told their Covid-19 tests were negative because of errors at a private laboratory.
An investigation found about 43,000 results from England and Wales have been affected by issues at the facility in Wolverhampton.
In a statement, Health Minister Eluned Morgan said most wrong results were in the Gwent and Cwm Taf Morgannwg areas.
Some who received negative results will be asked to retest.
The incorrect PCR test results were given between 8 September and 12 October.
The 4,000 number equates to about 0.4% of all tests from Wales processed over that period.
Ms Morgan said the Welsh government was made aware last week of reports that a higher than expected number of positive lateral flow tests were resulting in negative PCR tests.
Most of the affected tests came from the south-west of England.
A testing facility in Newport, which processes the majority of Welsh samples, was not affected, Ms Morgan added.
Ms Morgan said anyone who received a negative result from the laboratory after 4 October would be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and asked to take another test.
Close contacts who are symptomatic will also be advised to self-isolate and take a PCR test.
Sam Linforth had a negative PCR test result, followed by a positive result from a home PCR test kit
'I felt confused'
Sam Linforth, from Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan, said he woke up with a sore throat on 6 October and, after two positive lateral flow tests, took a PCR test in Bridgend that came back negative.
However, he then had another positive result from a lateral flow.
He said: "I called the test and trace helpline and explained what had happened. They seem surprised but came back and said I needed to follow the PCR result and didn't need to isolate."
He said he felt "uncertain" about this advice, so booked a home PCR test kit - which came back positive.
"Coming off the phone, I felt confused about what I was supposed to do. Was I being overly cautious?
"It didn't feel like it was good advice and went against what I would have naturally chosen to do."
Ms Morgan added: "My immediate concern is the information and support for the Welsh residents impacted and I have asked Public Health Wales to provide additional support and advice to the affected health boards in addition to the UK Health Security Agency communications.
"They will also be assessing the potential impact of this incident on the case rates and epidemiology reports for Wales."
Recent weeks have seen record numbers of tests
There have been 5.8 million tests taken so far in the pandemic but we have seen record testing in Wales in recent weeks.
The highest number of tests authorised in a single day - 34,151 - were processed on 23 September, although numbers have fallen back slightly and there have been an average of 22,600 tests a day in the last week.
Since mass testing became available in summer 2020, the lab work has been divided between NHS Wales and the private sector, including a network of so-called Lighthouse labs.
The private sector has been behind about 79% of recent testing.
There is routine testing of thousands of people in care homes and hospitals, as well as those who find themselves with Covid symptoms.
Demand has swelled, in part due to record numbers of positive lateral flow tests - about 20,700 - over the past six weeks. This comes from school pupils, more people going back to work and going to events, but these lead to follow-up PCR testing.
What are the latest Covid figures?
It is estimated 66,200 people have Covid-19 in Wales, according to the latest weekly swab survey by the Office for National Statistics.
This is the highest estimate since the swab survey began in August last year.
That is the equivalent of one in 45 people or 2.18% of the population.
This is an increase on the previous week's estimate that 56,900 people had Covid.
The ONS takes thousands of swab samples in Wales each week, so this can pick up people who may not know they have Covid.
The highest proportions are estimated to be among school-age children, with 9.7% of 10-year-olds and 11% of 12-year-olds infected.
We can also see from latest case rate figures how they have risen in 10 out of 22 local authority areas among the under 25s.
The spike in cases in the under 16s appears to be over despite a small rise in the last week again.
In the latest week, there were 2,444 positive tests linked to schools - a 36% drop from the cases recorded in the previous week.
Friday's other Covid-19 figures, released by PHW, showed daily cases were averaging 2,395 - compared to 2,163 the week before.
It also reported 15 more deaths from the virus.
The deaths go back as far as 1 October, with six deaths occurring on Tuesday.
There have been 36 deaths in the last seven days - an average of five deaths a day,
It takes the total number of deaths reported by PHW to 6,005, although these figures only include those who have died in Welsh hospitals or care homes after a positive test.
The latest ONS data showed there were 8,357 deaths with Covid in Wales up to 1 October.
Wales' seven-day case rate was 531.7 new infections per 100,000 people over the most recent seven-day period.
Torfaen (709.9) and Cardiff (705.4) reporting the highest rate out of Wales' 22 local authority areas, while Merthyr Tydfil (363) has the lowest.
The key indicator for hospitalisations showed there were 484 hospital patients with confirmed Covid on Thursday - including 104 in Cardiff and Vale.
The trend is now upwards, from 415 patients a week ago and 14% more patients than two weeks ago.
But numbers are still around 28% of those in hospital with Covid at the same point in the second wave
- Published15 October 2021
- Published12 October 2021
