DIY Home Testing Kits ‘To Arrive In Shops Within Days'

Millions of finger-prick home-testing kits could be for sale on high streets within days, Public Health England said yesterday.

- Hanna Geissler

Providing tests show that the kit can accurately confirm if someone has had the virus or not, the game-changing pack could be delivered to the public via online delivery or sold in pharmacies.

Similar to a pregnancy test, they use a spot of blood to check for antibodies present after infection.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced earlier this week that 3.5 million antibody tests had been purchased.

Yesterday, Prof Sharon Peacock, director of the national infection service at PHE, said: “Further millions are being ordered today.”

She told the Commons Science and Technology Committee that the tests were being evaluated at labs in Oxford.

Quizzed on a time frame by MPs, she agreed it would be a matter of days, rather than weeks.

Later, Prof Chris Whitty, chief medical officer, emphasized the tests would only be made available if they are proven to be accurate.

Prof Peacock told MPs: “Several million tests have been purchased.

“Once they have been tested this week and the bulk of tests arrive, they will be distributed into the community.