Cycle threshold used for PCR tests (FOI)

Request

A

Could you please confirm the cycle threshold (Ct-Value) required for a positive SARS-CoV-2 sample at each respective PCR test centre locally.

B

Could you also provide the total number of confirmed positives that have had a Ct-Value >30

C

Could you also please provide a breakdown of the total number of patients tested at all local test centres that fall into the following ct-value cohort:

Ct ≥35

25Ct ≤ 25

Response

A

Information is publically available on www.gov.je in response to a previous FOI request. Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied. Please see the following link:

Accuracy of PCR tests (FOI) 

B and C

Historic information is not held in a format for the purpose of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011. Records are held for the purpose of contact tracing. This data is constantly being updated on a daily basis, it is not possible to pin point the exact number of cases without manipulating the data.

Aside from taking more than the prescribed 12.5 hours to do that work, the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 does not require a Scheduled Public Authority to manipulate data in order to provide a response. Article 16 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has therefore been applied.

Articles applied

Article 16 - A scheduled public authority may refuse to supply information if cost excessive

(1) A scheduled public authority that has been requested to supply information may refuse to supply the information if it estimates that the cost of doing so would exceed an amount determined in the manner prescribed by Regulations.

Regulation 2 (1) of the Freedom of Information (Costs) (Jersey) Regulations 2014 allows an authority to refuse a request for information where the estimated cost of dealing with the request would exceed the specified amount of the cost limit of £500. This is the estimated cost of one person spending 12.5 working hours in determining whether the department holds the information, locating, retrieving and extracting the information.

Article 23 - Information accessible to applicant by other means

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.