Although the headline in the newspaper specifically refers to "coronavirus", this post is because of the possible impact on other testing. This could affect NHS and private labs across the country - as well as home test.
NHS coronavirus tests threatened by Roche supply chain glitch
Pharmaceutical firm reports ‘significant drop in processing capacity’ of reagents, kits and swabs
Concerns have been raised over the supply of vital testing materials for a range of conditions, including Covid-19, following a supply chain problem with the pharmaceutical company Roche.
On Tuesday, Roche said it had experienced a “very significant drop” in its processing capacity due to a problem with its Sussex distribution centre, the only one in the UK.
It has been reported that the shortage includes vital reagents, screening kits and swabs.
In addition to providing these chemicals and parts used in Covid-19 tests, Roche also provides materials for a wide range of procedures including blood and urine tests, as well as diabetic care.
Some experts have declared the PCR test of little value - so perhaps if they ceased as has been suggested - then the products mentioned above could be put to better use.
Interview on Radio 4 this morning suggested that NHS routine bloods would try and deal with the situation by shuffling tests to labs that have different testing platforms, so hopefully bypassing the shortages of roache reagents. Presume this will mean lots of thyroid tests coming back with different lab ranges to what we usually get.
Yes - and different susceptibility to interference (e.g. by various antibodies and biotin).
Also, it is bound to add some delay to processing the tests. Even if only the transport of samples.
A distinct problem for some tests which need to go from arm to lab in minutes. For example, at least some parathyroid hormone assays. They might need patients to go to different places for their blood draws.
I think you may find thyroid testing will be deemed non essential and will cease!! Only one district general near us use non Roche platforms, all the rest are. There is no way despite what the higher up peeps say that that hospital can cope with three huge hospitals work and theirs. Nice theory though.
It has regularly been said that the NHS systems needed to be put to better use - since they know what's required - than this mad reliance on companies... What a mess!
Due to Government budget cuts, the NHS needs to be as efficient as possible. Modern laboratory tests are so complex that the vast majority of them are now carried out on automated analysers that are run 24/7 by dedicated staff. We do have to rely on companies to provide equipment/reagents etc. and without this reliance, it would be impossible to perform the millions of tests that we do each year.
The system isn't perfect, but we do try to make it as efficient as possible.
Thanks very much for your kind words. We do what we do because we love it (even if it's a bit Nerdy), but being able to help someone else is the icing on the cake.
I work in an NHS lab that relies on Roche reagents, and I'd just like to say that there is no shortage. Roche have moved their operation into a new depot, and I believe their stock control computer has had a "glitch".
They have already started to send out reagents and I'm sure they will be up and running again within a week or two. In the meantime only essential and urgent tests are being carried out. We are sending work to other labs, and vice versa, so as much as possible is being done.
Nothing to worry about really (I hope) - you just may have to wait a little bit longer for results.
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