Covid lateral flow tests: Can we rely on rapid antigen testing? – BBC Newsnight

As the US regulator strongly warns against the lateral flow tests currently being used in the UK, what does it mean for the government’s testing programme? Please subscribe HERE http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

Concerns have been raised by the US Food and Drug Agency about a type of lateral flow test widely used to detect covid cases in the UK.

More than a billion of the tests have been delivered to the UK by the American company, Innova Medical Group.

The tests form part of the government’s mass testing programme to pick up asymptomatic cases and are regularly being used to test school children and those attending large pilot events.

But as doubts around the efficacy of the tests are raised, might there be a danger the government has a false picture of how prevalent Covid is in the community right now?

Health correspondent Deb Cohen reports

Newsnight is the BBC’s flagship news and current affairs TV programme – with analysis, debate, exclusives, and robust interviews.

Website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsnight
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsnight