Roundtable Discussion; The Future of Mineral Sands. Watch the video here.
"Does anyone know if the tests are taken from the NHS stock of Chinese tests or are they new one's ?
Is anyone on here classed as a "critical worker", what test have you been sent"
NHS workers are mainly getting FlowFlex tests (some trusts are using different tests but they are the minority). IS providers are using free to use other tests - many are using Roche.
Supplies to the NHS are not subject to the CTDA regulations (at this time).
NHS England is signing a new National Covid Contract with the larger independent sector hospital groups, running through until the end of March 2022 as a minimum (I wouldn't be surprised if it goes longer). This means we're back where we were this time last year.
And the government are beginning to roll back on their suggestion of ending free LFTs (just in case, I managed to snag a few extra boxes this morning). The scrutiny and criticism over the weekend may lead to an acceleration of the CTDA process - keep an eye on the published approvals: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-test-validation-approved-products - I'd expect to see updates this week.
"We therefore believe it is essential that similar Omicron sensitivity studies be performed on all SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests and the results COMMUNICATED TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE in the results these tests generate."
This has already happened for a number of UK-manufactured tests (e.g. the Mologic/ODX tests). It's notable that this doesn't appear to have happened with a number of the tests already approved through the CTDA process or given exemptions from the CTDA requirements.
It's clear that the CTDA regulations, and the UKHSA/MHRA implementation of them, is not fit for purpose and is hamstringing British manufacturers in favour of imported, second rate Chinese tests which are more expensive.
One does have to ask who is getting a kickback?
“ Do you invest in the company whose test may take months to fix? Or do you invest in the company whose test works?‘
And I say that as an investor in both companies…
“ Why’s that regulator? What is the good news here that I am missing?”
Do you invest in the company whose test may take months to fix? Or do you invest in the company whose test works?
The Avactolytes aren’t going to be happy this morning, if they really understand the content of this morning’s RNS.
https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/AVCT/update-on-affidx-and-detection-of-omicron-variant-x2zwsj4vf49p42n.html
Wouldn’t be surprised to see some money flowing this way…
“Could be an interesting PMQ's with Angela Raynor standing in.”
Time to start retweeting the hell out of this and tagging in your local MP: https://twitter.com/ukregulator/status/1478670802438479877?s=21
I’m sorry… want to try that in comprehensible English?
“ new variants and mutation will keep coming as long as there is winter season,which is throughout the whole year, and until they realised that what they actually think is mutation or new variant is actually just "seasonal flu". “
Just ‘seasonal flu.
Remind us where you got your degrees in virology and epidemiology maqsood7…. University of Facebook?
"good posts RegulatorUK, but not many recommendation as this board is full of boilerroom posters."
I have a veritable sea of green boxes. TW's acolytes must be working overtime to pay for their Christmas Buckfast...
The two links in my previous email seem to have incorporated the final parentheses. The corrected links are:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/weekly-national-flu-reports
https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/communicable-diseases/influenza/seasonal-influenza/surveillance-and-lab-network
I note that over the festive period another test was approved - this one from Turkey!
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1043967/Products_approved_under_the_Medical_Devices__Coronavirus_Test_Device_Approvals___Amendment__Regulations_2021-_24122021.ods
"yes we will be living with covid as we do with Flu, Virus will eventually mutate into a very mild disease and there will be no need for mass testing."
Do remind me where you got your degrees in virology and epidemiology? University of Facebook perchance?
"Do we test for flu ? No and we wont test for Coronavirus in the future."
Yes - we do test for 'flu. And have done for years (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/weekly-national-flu-reports).
We're part of an international structure of testing for 'flu (https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/communicable-diseases/influenza/seasonal-influenza/surveillance-and-lab-network) - it's partly how we identify the prevalent strains and create the annual 'flu vaccines.
You do come across as remarkably ill-informed.
"@SundayTimesScot - Prof Peto states UK Co's are "whingeing" - not a very professional or scientific analysis. US banned Chinese LFTs as inferior. #ODX test id'd as 'Gold Standard' after trials. Are Prof Peto's pals up to same 'gold standard' of approval? @johnredwood @Omega_ODX "
I know one of Tim Peto’s colleagues, who described him as a “bit of a dick”. She described his comments as “totally unprofessional “.
“ I wish he was prime minister - read his blog - he speaks up for the english but the left wing media seize every opportunity to rubbish him because they are scared of his interllect and common sense.”
The man is a moron. To call him an intellectual pygmy would be an insult to pygmies. But he does seem to curry favour with a certain demographic…
"The reply does not mean that if the government order is not forthcoming - as appears to be the situation today - that HMG will not allow the machinery to be used."
That's a very 'nuanced' reading of what is a remarkably clear statement.
I haven't made an assertion. I've said that there's some early data (not yet in preprint) which suggests that nasal only swabbing *may not* be sufficient...
There's some interesting early data emerging around LFTs and Omicron, which suggest that nasal only swabbing may not be sufficient and we may need to go back to oropharyngeal swabbing as well. Which won't be an issue for the Visitect test, which was designed originally as a combined test - but may have an impact on some of the newer entrants to the market. W
What Omicron does show is that this pandemic is not over by any means and we may need to be more agile in the way we deal with particular variants. Which means UKHSA needs to pull it's finger out...
I suggest people follow Michael Mina on Twitter if you want to know what is going on with testing in the USA.
There are real echoes of the s**tshow that is happening here in the UK...
As an AVCT holder I'm pleased by this morning's RNS (nice early Christmas present)...
...but that RNS has overegged the pudding and I'm afraid some people will be in for a rude awakening.
As I said over there, the UKHSA is screwing up big time. To date, after three months, it has only authorised 13 tests out of the hundreds that have been submitted - and of those manufacturers, only one is actually British. The rest are overseas manufacturers (albeit that some of them have UK manufacturing bases).
I would expect to see another tranche of approvals before Christmas and the next set of restrictions... but I can see legal action happening fairly soon, as some of the UK developers/manufacturers lose patience with the obfuscation, delay, incompetence and corruption surrounding the CTDA system.