Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS laboratory capacity for covid-19 testing is being used at maximum capacity; whether all NHS laboratories seeking reagent to fulfil their maximum testing capacity are able to source sufficient reagent; and if he will make a statement.

National Health Service pathology laboratories play a vital role in our ability to test for not only COVID-19 but a range of other conditions. There is a balance to be struck between using NHS laboratories at maximum capacity and ensuring the continuity of other pathology testing and this will be discussed with NHS trusts when they request additional supplies.