Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ensure that loop-mediated isothermal amplification covid-19 tests are provided in all special needs settings.

The UK Health Security Agency trialled the use of direct loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), the most mature saliva test that is validated and available to deploy, for individuals with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in a small number of restricted pilots. It was also considered for other appropriate settings.

Results of the trials showed that this was not appropriate for national use in SEND settings. We continue to work with select SEND settings to provide LAMP testing where appropriate