Question reference: S6W-04731
- Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 29 November 2021
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Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 8 December 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has about the efficacy of lateral flow tests in detecting the new Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Answer
Lateral Flow Devices (LFDs) used in the National Testing Programme are routinely evaluated and reviewed to detect early signals of changes in performance with emerging variants to ensure they can detect new variants of concern as soon as possible after they are identified.
LFDs that have passed validation at UKHSA Porton Down are currently being assessed against the Omicron variant, with priority being given to the LFDs currently deployed in the UK National Testing Programme.
LFDs used in the National Testing Programme have been evaluated against, and successfully detect the Delta variant, which is currently the dominant variant in Scotland.