COVID-19 cases caught early by LFD tests

Thousands of COVID-19 cases have been detected by the Asymptomatic Testing Programme, a Scottish Government evaluation has found.

More than 6.6 million LFD results reported by Scots were considered in the Asymptomatic Testing Programme Evaluation which looked at nine testing pathways including community testing, early learning and childcare settings and the Health and Social Care workforce.

The number of positive cases identified by LFD testing, then confirmed by PCR, was 7,271, according to the study which looked at the period between November last year and June 2021.

The data shows widespread uptake of testing among the general population through the pathways, including the universal offer.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: "Scotland’s Testing Strategy  is a key part of our approach to controlling the Covid-19 pandemic and minimising transmission.

"This report shows the importance of regular asymptomatic testing in capturing cases of the Covid-19 often before symptoms emerge. These would otherwise go undetected or be found much later in the virus progression, once symptoms had developed.

"As we go into this holiday period, frequent testing with lateral flow devices is essential and I would urge people to make sure they report the results – whether positive, negative or void – which only takes a few minutes.

"Everyone should do a lateral flow test before mixing with people from other households. That means before going to a pub, to a restaurant, visiting someone’s house, or even going shopping."

Background

The Asymptomatic Testing Programme Evaluation overs the period November 2020 to June 2021. 

The data presented in this report relies on reporting of test results.