Government orders halt on Randox coronavirus tests over safety fears

Mr Hancock today said the use of tests provided by private firm Randox had been “paused” after safety issues were discovered.

Randox was given a £133m contract in March to provide coronavirus testing kits, but without a bidding process.

The tests are delivered to the public and care homes and then sent directly back to Randox to be analysed.

But Mr Hancock today said: “We’ve identified some test swabs that are not up to the usual high standard that we expect and we’ll be carrying out further testing of this batch.”

He added: “As a precautionary measure, and while we investigate further, we’re requesting the use of these Randox swab test kits are paused in all settings until further notice.

“This problem was brought to my attention yesterday afternoon, we contacted settings using these swabs last night and published the pause notice immediately.”

The issue was revealed as 66 further deaths were recorded of those who had tested positive for coronavirus today, bringing the UK total to 45,119.

In Yorkshire, one further death was recorded, bringing the total to 2,870.

On the faulty tests Mr Hancock said there was “no evidence of any harm, the test results are not affected, there is no evidence of any issues with our other test swabs and there is no impact on access to testing”.

But shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said: “These kits tend to be used in many care homes. We want care home residents to be tested regularly, we want care home staff to be tested regularly – can he guarantee that those care homes will now get alternative kits rapidly?”

Mr Hancock replied: “The reason is that they had a CE stamp and upon investigation of the certification of that stamp the certification was not forthcoming, and therefore physical checks were done and we found that the swabs weren’t up to the standards that we expect.

“This is limited to the Randox element of the testing system, not the broader testing system that we have, and I explained the clinical position which is that there is no evidence of any harm having been done and that there is full access to testing because we have plenty of other test kits available.”