Working in partnership with NHS Supply Chain
Workplace COVID-19 Testing For Safe and Productive Organisations
Ever since we all first heard the term COVID-19 the one constant has been ongoing change. Since July 16th, the UK has reached a position where we have an element of freedom and yet are discovering the new pressures of the so called ‘pingdemic’ with many companies and entire supply chains disrupted by absenteeism. This is often caused by the requirement for perfectly healthy people, who have been in the presence of another individual who has received a positive test, to self-isolate. As I write, more change is underway, with certain types of organisations being considered for exemption, whilst Trade Unions and others argue that if it is right for some types of company to follow the self-isolation rules, then all organisations should do so in order to protect their employees.
One option that is increasingly welcomed by all types of organisations is the use of workplace testing. Although mildly inconvenient and at a small cost per test, this provides and accurate assessment of each individual’s suitability for work on a regular basis; preferably daily or otherwise twice-weekly. With reports that the Government is planning to withdraw the provision of free Lateral Flow Tests as part of the ‘living with COVID-19’ strategy, workplace testing appears to be as close as possible to a reasonable silver bullet to enable all kinds of companies and organisations to provide COVID-safe, healthy and productive workplaces in which all employees and meet, communicate, co-create, build, and operate with confidence.
As an award winning provider of medical supplies, we at Newtons strongly recommend the use of Lateral Flow Covid-19 Antigen Tests ( https://www.newtonsmedicalsupplies.co.uk/product/flowflex-sars-cov-2-antigen-rapid-test-professional-use-only/ ) that have passed Phase 3A assessment at PHE Porton Down ( https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/assessment-and-procurement-of-coronavirus-covid-19-tests/protocol-for-evaluation-of-rapid-diagnostic-assays-for-specific-sars-cov-2-antigens-lateral-flow-devices ) . This rapid antigen test has 97.1pc Sensitivity, 99.6pc Relative Specificity and 99.3pc Accuracy and when bulk-purchased by companies, is a small investment to ensure the ongoing health of any organisations employees and operations. As explained in this article published by the University of Oxford ( https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-11-11-oxford-university-and-phe-confirm-lateral-flow-tests-show-high-specificity-and-are ) when used systematically in mass testing could reduce transmissions by 90%.
