Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why there has been a delay in having sufficient kits for (1) antigen testing, and (2) serological testing, for the COVID-19 virus.

Testing is a crucial part of the United Kingdom’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Government is working on multiple fronts to deliver additional testing capacity to the system.

The Government’s Chief Medical Officer has previously said that there is huge global demand for testing supplies. The Government is working with industry to obtain maximum possible supplies for the UK and with the scientific community to explore innovative new options for test kits, working within existing safety standards and regulations.