Handling of testing contracts criticised by virologists

Britain’s leading virus experts have claimed that mistakes are being made in the handling of the coronavirus pandemic with testing contracts awarded on ideological grounds rather than expertise.

In a letter to England’s chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser, nearly 70 clinical virologists say they have been sidelined by the government and excluded from discussions on how to respond to the pandemic.

In the letter they highlight how the recent 90 minute test announcement was another key example of how virologists were being bypassed. They have been using rapid tests such as these already – but say they have no knowledge of or information on the DnaNudge or LamPORE tests that the government is contracting to buy.

The UK Clinical Virology Network wrote to chief medical officer for England Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser, on 10 July but say they have had no response. In that correspondence they expressed ‘concern over lack of engagement by policymakers with clinical virology expertise in the UK in the management of the Covid-19 (Sars-CoV-2 pandemic)’.

The virologists believe that the government has convinced itself that only the private sector can rise to the pandemic challenges. But, a series of mistakes and problems have arisen from failing to consult with clinical virologists.

For example. in March the government rushed into buying antibody tests that were then found not to work well enough. In the same month, it set up drive-through testing centres and so-called Lighthouse labs – privately and publicly operated – to increase the number of swabs taken and processed, but did not have the systems to feed the data into the NHS and public health authorities around the country, where it is needed.

The letter says: “It is not too late to effect change. The Covid-19 pandemic response will need to evolve through the coming winter and beyond … We ask that you reach out to the clinical and academic virologists in all countries of the UK.”