Lateral flow test results (FOI)

Request

A colleague of mine recently tested positive for Covid (via a PCR), but the lateral flow tests differed in results. The photos show two occasions where a lateral flow was taken, on each occasion with a new style LFT (with the blue writing) and an older style LFT. In each case, the older LFT showed a clear positive, while the new one showed not even a faint positive line.

LFTs (png)

A

Please can you tell me if any other users have reported the failure of the newer LFTs to detect Covid?

B

Please can you also explain why the tried and clearly tested older LFTs have been changed to the newer (and apparently less accurate) ones?

This is obviously of concern because the early symptoms may have been mistaken for hay-fever and Covid spread more widely as a result. 

C 

Health Minister Deputy Renouf has recently suggested taking more LFTs as cases have increased substantially recently, but is he aware that the newer LFTs may be less able to detect Covid? 

Response 

A 

Fewer than five individuals have formally raised concerns about the accuracy of Lateral flow tests (LFTs) as recorded through the Customer Feedback Management System. 

B 

LFTs were provided to Jersey by the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). The model of kit provided depends on the DHSC available stock at the time they are supplied. 

C 

We currently have no scientific or regulatory evidence that the newer LFTs are any less able to detect Covid than the older ones if used correctly and as intended. The newer kits have different components and instructions from the previous kits, and we are currently considering future supply based on general comfort and ease of use.  

Public Health advice continues to be for Islanders to self-test using LFTs at home twice per week, unless working in a high-risk setting (in which case, individuals are advised to test each day before travelling to work). Anyone with symptoms should book a PCR test for diagnosing Covid.