Feb 18th, 2021
5 mins
Defra are still inviting businesses in the food sector with more than 50 employees to register for the provision of government-funded lateral flow technology (LFT/LFD) to test asymptomatic workers. These free test kits will be available until 31 March 2021. From our daily meeting it is thought this may be extended to Scotland and rolled out in mid-February in a similar way.
We are aware that some businesses are exploring options for sourcing equipment outside of the provision made available by central and local government. If any of member intends to do so, please be aware that a wide variety of lateral flow devices (LFDs) are available on the market and their reliability varies greatly. The testing programme supported by the Department of Health and Social Care and local authorities uses Innova, the only LFD which has successfully passed detailed evaluation by Public Health England. Some other devices are undergoing trials at PHE and may be added to the national programme in the future, but at present we cannot advise on the reliability of any LFD other than Innova.
Please also be aware that companies will need to pick up any additional staffing costs, organise waste collection and provide equipment required to run a test centre.
There is a PowerPoint presentation which explains the current offer in England, process and requirements, see link below to Introduction to LFD Testing in the Workplace.
Due to the high prevalence of coronavirus infections in England, confirmatory testing will be temporarily removed for LFT tests taken at workplace test sites until prevalence lowers again. This change was implemented on 27 January 2021.
Click to view some recent Q&A’s Confirmatory Testing Q_A 9 February 2021 v2
Introduction to LFD Testing in the Workplace
Many of you have already replied to our call for action and registered your interest for the mass lateral flow (LFT) testing trials in England, this to establish testing sites in the work place for those asymptomatic, this to enable our critical sector to keep running where workers cannot work from home. Many of you are now engaged in the process which includes support of:
- Free government funded lateral flow device (LFD) shipped to one location,
- Clinically approved protocol (Standard Operating Procedures),
- Guidebook to describe how to set up and run a safe and effective testing site,
- On-demand training for the operatives that will process tests & run the site,
- GDPR-compliant digital solution to report results to Public Health England.
To register your interest, simply contact Carla Brown your details will be forwarded to Defra and the Department of Health and Social Care.
This offer currently covers locations in England but may include Scotland very soon. We understand that this will also be rolled out in Wales and Northern Ireland.
