LFT are the future9 Sep 2020 13:25
A friend of mine recently got tested for C19, he ordered the test from the UK Gov on a Saturday, arrived via Amazon on Monday 6pm. He completed the test and posted it that evening, but had missed last post because the test arrived to late in the day. So the returned sample arrives via 24hr Royal Mail post into the lab on a Wednesday and he doesn’t get the result until Thursday. A five day wait…
LFT are the future. Lab tests will always have their place, but being able to have an immediate result, even if the result is 0.5% less accurate is invaluable. Also cost might not seem too important right now, but over time, the cost has to come down. For testing to become common place, the price has to be £10 or less, £5 would be ideal. At this price, most people would be able to quickly test themselves before going to a family gathering e.g. Christmas. If tests are £30+ people will just take the risk. The same test my friend ordered from the UK Gov is over £100 if you get it privately.
The media are obsessed with criticising LFT, but this will change over time as they realise there is no alternative. The cost, logistics and time delay of lab testing is currently being highlighted by the lab testing problems being reported in the news. Labs are struggling to keep up and we are only testing those that have symptoms, let alone symptom-less people. we need to get to the point where anyone that wants an antigen or antibody test can easily and cheap get access to one. What company is better placed to provide these tests that people desperately need, than Omega Diagnostics?