Britain’s biggest network of diagnostic labs are completed in 5 weeks
The rapid creation of 3 new Lighthouse Labs in Milton Keynes,
Glasgow and Alderley Park in Cheshire is increasing the country’s
capacity to test for coronavirus, with each site scaling up to test
tens of thousands of patient samples each day. Each individual site
took just 3 weeks to complete and begin testing. The new mega-labs
are staffed by an army of highly qualified staff and volunteers
from industry and academia,...Request free trial
The rapid creation of 3 new Lighthouse Labs in Milton Keynes, Glasgow and Alderley Park in Cheshire is increasing the country’s capacity to test for coronavirus, with each site scaling up to test tens of thousands of patient samples each day. Each individual site took just 3 weeks to complete and begin testing. The new mega-labs are staffed by an army of highly qualified staff and volunteers from industry and academia, drawn from across the country. These groups are working tirelessly to rapidly analyse coronavirus tests for NHS, social care and other frontline workers, allowing those testing negative to safely and quickly return to work. The Lighthouse Labs will test samples from drive through testing sites, with new sites set up nearly each day across the UK. Work is ongoing to set up 50 of these drive-through sites, and there are now 27 in operation, including in Wembley, Manchester and Glasgow. Thanks to increased testing capacity the government is extending testing to a wider group of frontline workers in addition to patients, NHS or social care workers who need one. Frontline workers who are eligible – have symptoms of coronavirus, a high temperature or new continuous cough – and would like to be tested should speak to their employer. See the updated guidance on getting tested. Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:
National Testing Coordinator Professor John Newton said:
Earlier this month the Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the UK government’s 5-pillar plan to rapidly scale up coronavirus testing across the UK. The new 5-pillar plan outlines the ambitions to:
The new Lighthouse Labs have been created through a partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care, Medicines Discovery Catapult, UK Biocentre and the University of Glasgow. Their development is being closely supported by both NHS and Public Health England. Dozens of universities, research institutes and companies across Britain are lending their testing equipment to the new hub laboratories for the duration of the immediate need for high capacity testing. No equipment already in use for coronavirus testing or research has been taken. The sites are working in collaboration with devolved national health services and governments, industry and academia and will be supported by a national advisory network of scientific, clinical and operational experts.
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