RE: Roche antibody test14 May 2020 01:23
The Telegraph understands that the Department of Health is in negotiations with the Swiss healthcare company Roche to buy millions of the kits.On Wednesday night, Roche said it stood ready to provide hundreds of thousands of laboratory-based tests to the NHS each week. A Government source said: "We want to get our hands on as many of these as possible."On Wednesday night, Jeremy Hunt, the chairman of the health select committee and a former Health Secretary, said: "This is potentially very exciting news for people who work in the NHS and care sector who have been most exposed to the virus.
"If we can establish that antibodies give you immunity, it would mean that you can go back to work safely. As soon as we can be certain that antibodies give you long-lasting immunity, I would expect significant orders to be placed."
Steve Brine, a former health minister, described the move as a "potential game-changer," telling The Telegraph it could help improve public confidence to return to work as the lockdown is lifted.