Northampton lab completes 4,500 Covid-19 lockdown tests as Government plans to cut funding

They will like have to stop the service later this month.
20/30 Labs Ltd.20/30 Labs Ltd.
20/30 Labs Ltd.

A private Northampton lab says it has completed more than 4,500 Covid-19 swab tests for the local community since lockdown began.

20/30 Labs Ltd, in Brackmills, set up a coronavirus testing site in April after receiving Government funding to help screen communities in Northamptonshire.

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They were needed to run screening tests for services including GP practices, care homes, schools, Pharmacies, dental practices and St Andrews Hospital.

During that time, 20/30 Labs Ltd also took on two first-year students as volunteers and a well as a University of Northampton student as work experience.

Meanwhile, the lab was able to offer free testing to GP surgeries with the help of a £1m volunteering fund by Oxford scientist, Mike Fischer CBE.

It comes as the Government is expected to withdraw funding for private labs after July 11.

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20/30's managing director Zoé Laughton said: "Sadly, after the 11th July the Department of Health and Social Care is minded to withdraw funding for private labs - like 20/30 Labs - which will mean we are no longer able to offer this vital service in the pandemic response.

"Although we have interest in commercial testing we would hope to be able to continue to offer free of charge testing to the frontline healthcare workers in our communities, which is vital in keeping our community safe."