Question reference: S6W-01150
- Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 1 July 2021
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Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 29 July 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the COVID-19 test result turnaround times have been in the last four weeks, broken down by week.
Answer
Data on turnaround times is management information and is not currently published.
It is vital that test results are communicated in a timely manner to allow the appropriate public health action to be taken. PCR testing in Scotland is split between NHS Scotland testing, which focuses on health and social care testing, and the UK-wide National Testing Programme operated on a 4 nations basis, which primarily focuses on public-facing, symptomatic testing. We receive a population-based share of the capacity of the UK National Testing Programme Laboratory Network. We continue to work very closely with DHSC to improve and maintain strong testing turnaround times which may be affected by any testing fluctuations across the UK-wide network. Additional laboratory capacity is being brought online to respond to recent the rising demand for PCR tests.