A Covid testing lab in Wolverhampton has been suspended over fears 45,000 infected people were wrongly given the all-clear, health chiefs said today.
Immensa Health Clinic, which has been handed £120million for its services, is responsible for prosessing PCR tests from sites across the South West.
But an investigation has found it may have checked swabs incorrectly since last month, and told infected people they did not have the virus.
Health chiefs said it had analysed more than 400,000 samples since September 8 when problems began, but the vast majority would have been negative.
People who may have been given an incorrect result will be contacted in the coming days and asked to take another PCR test. Samples are being redirected to other laboratories.
West Berkshire council today urged everyone who got tested at one site in its area between October 3 and 12 to get a second PCR test.
It comes after workers at the lab on Wolverhampton University science park were filmed in January fighting and apparently drinking while on shift.
There are concerns thousands of children with sniffles have been wrongly told to stay at home over concerns they had Covid.
Secondary school children in England are asked to take two lateral flow tests a week. If they test positive, they must stay at home until they receive a result from a gold-standard PCR swab.
But latest Test and Trace statistics reveal 16 per cent of rapid swabs taken by pupils in the week ending October 6 that said they had the virus were found to be negative using a PCR swab.
Immensa Health Clinic, in Wolverhampton, has been suspended following an investigation revealing it may have incorrectly processed PCR tests. The lab (pictured) has been paid £120million by the taxpayer for its services
Latest Test and Trace data shows 16 per cent of secondary school children in England who tested positive using a rapid test in the week to October 6, were found to be negative for the virus after they took a PCR
West Berkshire Council called for them to visit Newbury Showground (pictured) for another test
Dr Will Welfare, the public health incident director at the UK Health Security Agency which replaced Public Health England, said an investigation had revealed concerns over the way the lab was analysing swabs.
He said in a statement: ‘We have recently seen a rising number of positive LFD results subsequently testing negative on PCR.
‘As a result of our investigation, we are working with NHS Test and Trace and the company to determine the laboratory technical issues which have led to inaccurate PCR results being issued to people.
‘We have immediately suspended testing at this laboratory while we continue the investigation.
He added: ‘There is no evidence of any faults with LFD or PCR test kits themselves and the public should remain confident in using them and in other laboratory services currently provided.
‘If you get a positive LFD test, it’s important to make sure that you then get a follow up PCR test to confirm you have COVID-19. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, self-isolate and take a PCR test.’
Professor Alan McNally, a geneticist at Birmingham University, warned that this could be just the ‘tip of a rather large iceberg’.
Immensa Health Clinic is owned by Italian-based company Dante Labs.
It was handed a £119million Government contract in November last year to carry out PCR tests.
Andrea Riposati, who leads the lab, said: ‘We are fully collaborating with UKHSA on this matter. Quality is paramount for us.
‘We have proudly analyzed more than 2.5million samples for NHS Test and Trace, working closely with the great teams at DHSC and UKHSA.
‘We do not wish this matter or anything else to tarnish the amazing work done by the UK in this pandemic.’
West Berkshire council announced this morning it had been made aware of problems with Covid test results for swabs taken at one of its sites.
It said in a statement: ‘After receiving reports from local residents in recent weeks that there were concerns about the accuracy of test results from (Newbury Showground test site), we passed these concerns onto the DHSC for further investigation.
‘The DHSC has now confirmed that a number of sites nationally may have been affected by this issue, including the one at Newbury Showground.’
The Covid testing centre, based at the events venue on the outskirts of the historic market town, is run by the government.
Sites like this dish out the majority of PCR tests, with samples sent to labs for analysis before results are sent back by text or email.
Ministers aim to return all results within 24 hours, although in some cases it can take as long as 72 to get a diagnosis.
Councillor Graham Bridgman told the Sun: ‘We are aware there was an issue with some tests undertaken at Newbury Showground earlier this month, which has now been resolved.
‘We would urge any residents that are concerned about their results to book another test as soon as possible so we can continue to prevent the spread of the virus across the district.’
There have been reports across the South West of England of lateral flow tests giving them negative results before PCR tests say they are positive.