Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what level of infectious material is required for a positive PCR test for covid-19.

There are many different SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assays in use across the United Kingdom. Each assay will have a slightly different limit of detection. The lowest concentration of virus that can be reliably and consistently detected by the assay and will be configured according to local arrangements. Some RT-PCRs are designed to identify a single gene target and others will detect multiple targets.