Test Volumes18 Feb 2021 14:04
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-56109670
There has been a huge spike in the number of rapid turnaround lateral flow device Covid tests being taken in England, according to weekly data.
A record 2,400,724 of the tests were conducted in the week to 10 February, according to the latest NHS Test and Trace figures.
This compares to 1,295,051 PCR tests in the same timeframe.
PCR tests are being used in surge testing in parts of the country where there have been cases of the South African variant. The sequencing of positive tests to find out the variant can take around two weeks, Public Health England says.
This is the second successive week in which more lateral flow tests were conducted than PCR tests.