Coronavirus: Screening

(asked on 18th February 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that PCR test results for covid-19 are only given in a clinical context to take into account a patient's medical history.


Answered by
Maggie Throup Portrait
Maggie Throup
This question was answered on 28th February 2022

The National Health Service provides clinical context for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests taken in healthcare settings. However, the purpose of PCR testing in the wider population is to identify positive cases for public health reasons and to reduce transmission. For pillar 2 PCR tests used for possible antiviral prescribing, an NHS clinical team will make an assessment of the patients’ medical history and clinical presentation to prescribe appropriate treatment.

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