Covid-19 antibody testing rolled out at Northumberland hospital

Everyone who enters a Northumberland cancer hospital will be tested to see if they've had coronavirus.

And the data collected through the tests could help the rest of the UK to get access to more reliable testing.

Rutherford Health plc, which runs the private Rutherford Cancer Centre in Bedlington, on Wednesday announced it was rolling out antibody testing for all patients and staff.

Just a few weeks ago, NHS bosses were suggesting antibody tests would soon be on sale through Amazon and Boots. It was said the simple tests could be taken at home and could help people get back to work by confirming they already had the virus and were likely to be immune.

The tests check blood for two types of antibodies, which the body uses to fight infection. If these antibodies are present, the person should have the ability to fight off the infection in future.

But of the 3.5million tests purchased by the UK government, none which have been so far tested meet the standards agreed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

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