97.2% of in-person COVID test results returned the next day

NHS Test and Trace turnaround times continue to rise as 97.2% of in-person COVID test results are returned the next day

NHS Test and Trace has recorded another record-breaking week as it returned 97.2% of in-person test results the next day after the test was taken.

In-person test results received within 24 hours is also at 82.7%

As of 2nd February, more than 71 million tests have been processed in the UK and 1,782,807 lateral flow device (LFD) tests have been carried out.

More than 280,000 people ordered a home test kit this week and Test and Trace delivered one of its best turnaround times for results, with a median turnaround time of 35 hours.

Tracing performance has remained high with 86.4% of cases and 93.6% of contacts reached last week. The proportion of contacts reached within 24 hours once identified as a contact was 98.0%.

There are now more than 850 test sites in operation, including 474 local test sites.

Health Minister Lord Bethell said:

“NHS Test and Trace is continuing to deliver record-breaking results. Thanks to the hard work of all those involved, we have been able to improve turnaround times for most testing routes to record speeds. These numbers are hugely impressive and have an enormous impact on the spread of the virus.

“We are also continuing to carry out a significant number of LFD tests, identifying people who are infectious but not showing symptoms. Around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 do not display symptoms. This means every positive LFD test helps us break a chain of transmission we wouldn’t have identified otherwise.”

Interim Executive Chair of the National Institute for Health Protection Baroness Dido Harding said:

“In a few months we have built NHS Test and Trace from scratch, creating a service where tests are easily available, results are received quickly, and those who test positive – and their recent contacts – are reached successfully in the vast majority of cases. This has all been delivered at speed, against a backdrop of continued demand. The impressive performance of NHS Test and Trace during this reporting week is a continuation of the programme’s strong start to the year.

“I am incredibly grateful to everyone involved in NHS Test and Trace who is working non-stop to help us combat the spread of the virus.”