Unsafe COVID-19 tests sent to care homes are recalled

As many as 750,000 coronavirus testing kits sent to care homes and people’s homes are being recalled over safety concerns.

Healthcare group Randox Laboratories says it is responsible for 17 per cent of the total COVID-19 tests supplied in the UK, with 1.3 million of its tests sent out to date, but a UK healthcare regulator has told Randox to recall its kits.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has instructed Randox to recall its unused COVID-19 home testing kits from care homes and other settings.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs in July, that swabs in some of Randox’s home test kits are “not up to the usual high standard".

Randox, based in County Down, Northern Ireland, was awarded a £133m contract to produce testing kits for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

On 15 July, care homes were told to stop using COVID-19 testing kits supplied by Randox on safety grounds. The move led to many care homes delaying family visits because of a lack of test kits for staff and residents.

The government’s deadline to ensure regular testing for all care home residents and staff in England has been delayed, because of issues with Randox tests.

Matt Hancock has promised to get tests to all care homes for the elderly and people with dementia by 7 September. All other care homes can place orders for test kits from 31 August.

The Department for Health and Social Care stated: ‘We have high safety standards for all coronavirus tests. Following the pause of Randox tests on 15 July, Randox have now recalled all test kits as a precautionary measure.

'The risk to safety is low and test results from Randox kits are not affected. We have been supporting all testing settings to receive replacement kits as soon as possible.’

Care homes are being advised that ‘a courier will collect unused kits within a specified time period, different to that for the collection of staff and resident samples that are being processed for COVID-19 testing’.