THE UK government wants help from businesses to increase the country’s coronavirus testing capacity, according to a document published by the Department for Health and Social Care.
The national testing strategy includes a commitment to deliver 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month and the government is now asking industry to help it to meet that challenge.
It wants to hear specifically from companies who can manufacture and supply:
- consumables and equipment for coronavirus testing, in particular test kits (such as nose and throat swabs, transport media and vials) and RNA extraction lab consumables (such as reagents, plates and pipette tips)
- new or existing types of coronavirus tests for antigens or antibodies. These must meet the requirement set out by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). MHRA has published the specification for the required antibody test
The government also wants to hear from public or private sector organisations that can offer laboratory capacity.
The online call for help says: “We have teams of experts evaluating all the offers received. To ensure that their time is used most effectively, please use the forms below, which ensure your offers meet our requirements and can be directed to the right expert group. We will contact you as quickly as possible if your support is needed.”
Here are those links:
Help supply materials and equipment
Help supply complete testing methods
Help provide laboratory capacity
You can also help provide other forms of support, including personal protective equipment (PPE) for testing laboratories.
Contact
Email: covid19triageservice@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
Phone: UK: 0800 915 9965; outside UK: 0191 264 2321
By Made in Britain 4 years ago | By Made in Britain