Transparency data

Management information on NHS Test and Trace: 24 June 2021

Published 24 June 2021

Background

This publication presents management information on the NHS Test and Trace programme to support the summer 2021 National Audit Office report on NHS Test and Trace. The following information is included in this report:

• rapid lateral flow device (LFD) tests conducted by sector

• LFD tests dispatched

• coronavirus (COVID-19) app usage

• polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test site utilisation by test site type

• PCR test samples processed and laboratory capacity by laboratory type

Regular data relating to NHS Test and Trace can be accessed via weekly statistics for NHS Test and Trace (England).

LFD tests conducted by sector

Table 1 shows the number of lateral flow device tests conducted and registered for rapid asymptomatic testing in different sectors as part of the NHS Test and Trace programme. Tests which have been used but not reported will not be included in the figures below.

The number of LFD tests conducted and positive test results linked to education settings, care homes, private sector workplaces and by NHS staff are published in the existing weekly statistics for NHS Test and Trace (England). Figures for public sector workplaces, communities and other known and unknown settings are published for the first time in this report.

For some sectors, the date testing started may be prior to the full roll out of rapid asymptomatic testing, as some tests were registered for the purposes of trials or pilot studies.

The number of positive test results is not published as a proportion of the total tests conducted in this publication due to the data quality. In addition, because there are differences in the testing operation between the different settings, they cannot be directly compared. See the ‘data quality’ section for more information.

Table 1: rapid asymptomatic LFD testing by sector, England, up to and including 26 May 2021

Sector	Date testing started	Number of LFD tests conducted	Number of positive LFD test results
Community testing	October 2020	6,695,624	60,437
NHS Staff	16 November 2020	15,563,625	50,496
Higher education	27 November 2020	1,613,044	3,915
Private sector workplace testing	5 November 2020	1,569,408	2,815
Public sector workplace testing	5 November 2020	866,012	1,108
Other known settings	November 2020	345,793	2,062
Other unknown settings	November 2020	9,701,162	29,718
Care homes	14 December 2020	10,522,558	23,898
Nurseries, primary schools, secondary schools and colleges	18 January 2021 (nurseries and primary school) 4 January 2021 (secondary schools and colleges)	50,735,822	49,197

Further details about these data are provided in the ‘methodology’ section below. This data is also available in Table 1 of the accompanying spreadsheet.

LFD tests dispatched

Table 2 shows the number of LFD tests dispatched via the different distribution channels.

Tests dispatched via one channel could have been registered against a different channel, for example home delivery channel tests can be used by school bubbles or workplaces. It is therefore not possible to directly map dispatched tests to registered tests or calculate the percentage of distributed tests that have been used for individual channels.

The start date for tests dispatched will not always align with the date of access to rapid asymptomatic testing due to tests being dispatched for pilots and studies, or to ensure tests were made available in advance. These figures represent the number of tests dispatched to each programme, however for some programmes such as community testing, tests may be stockpiled for use when necessary.

Table 2: LFD tests dispatched by channel, England, up to and including 26 May 2021

Dispatch channel	Date tests were first requested for dispatch	Number of LFD tests dispatched
Community testing	October 2020	21,571,850
Higher education	October 2020	8,607,497
Other known settings	September 2020	4,263,914
Nurseries, primary schools, secondary schools and colleges	November 2020	241,007,658
NHS	November 2020	107,310,553
Adult social care	November 2020	78,031,654
Private sector workplace testing	November 2020	56,163,071
Public sector workplace testing	November 2020	14,128,767
Universal Offer	February 2021	159,676,960
Total	N/A	690,761,924

Further details about these data are provided in the methodology section below. This data is also available in Table 2 of the accompanying spreadsheet.

COVID-19 app usage

This section relates to NHS COVID-19 app, which was launched by NHS Test and Trace in September 2020. In the week beginning 22 April 2021, 16 million people in the United Kingdom had the app fully or partially enabled on their phone. Having the app fully or partially enabled on a phone means that a user has the app installed, onboarded and functional on their device.

Additional information and data on the NHS COVID-19 app is published weekly at NHS COVID-19 app statistics.

Table 3: COVID-19 app usage, United Kingdom, week beginning 22 April 2021

Time period	Number of people who had the app fully or partially enabled on their phone
Week beginning 22 April 2021	16,000,000

Other methodologies and definitions have also been used to calculate app usage data. Further details about this measure are provided in the methodology section below. This data is also available in Table 3 of the accompanying spreadsheet.

PCR test site utilisation by test site type

Table 4 shows data relating to the number of in-person polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests registered and the capacity of test sites, as part of the NHS Test and Trace programme. The table shows the average (mean) daily test site utilisation rate for October 2020 to March 2021. For each day, this is calculated as the total number of test kits registered divided by total test site capacity. Test site capacity is the total number of tests a site could possibly complete on a given day based on site configuration, workforce constraint and viable throughput, assuming no constraints or site restrictions.

The results are broken down by testing site type:

• regional test sites, which are drive-through testing centres

• local test sites, which are similar to regional test sites but specifically for walk ups

These tests are all within pillar 2 of the Test and Trace programme, which relates to swab testing for the virus in the wider population.

Table 4: PCR test site utilisation rate by testing site type, England, October 2020 to March 2021

Test site type	Average daily utilisation rate (%)
Regional test sites	30
Local test sites	28

Further details about these data are provided in the methodology section below. This data is also available with greater granularity in Table 4 of the accompanying spreadsheet.

PCR test samples processed and laboratory capacity by laboratory type

Table 5 shows data relating to the number of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test samples processed and the capacity of laboratories, as part of the NHS Test and Trace programme. The table shows the total values for October 2020 to March 2021 for the following measures:

• the laboratory capacity, which is the total contracted pillar 2 PCR tests available on the reporting date

• the number of pillar 2 PCR test samples processed by laboratories on the reporting date

• the utilisation rate for pillar 2 PCR tests, which is calculated as the number of test samples processed divided by capacity

Pillar 2 relates to swab testing for the virus in the wider population, through commercial partnerships, either processed in a lab or more rapidly via LFD tests.

The results are broken down between lighthouse laboratories and other laboratories:

• a lighthouse laboratory is a high throughput facility that is dedicated to COVID-19 testing for NHS Test and Trace

• other types of laboratories include partner laboratories, which provide a high volume of testing for NHS Test and Trace alongside their usual activities

Table 5: pillar 2 PCR test samples processed and laboratory capacity by laboratory type, United Kingdom, October 2020 to March 2021

Laboratory type	Capacity (Number)	Test samples processed (Number)	Utilisation rate (%)
Lighthouse laboratories	62,680,950	37,414,692	60
Other laboratories	19,126,681	4,966,590	26

Further details about these data are provided in the methodology section below. This data is also available in Table 5 of the accompanying spreadsheet.

Methodology

Data sources

The figures in this publication are management information collected by NHS Test and Trace.

LFD tests conducted

The number LFD tests conducted and positive test results linked to education settings, care homes, private sector workplaces and by NHS staff are published in the existing Weekly statistics for NHS Test and Trace (England) with accompanying NHS Test and Trace statistics (England): methodology. Figures for public sector workplaces, communities and other known and unknown settings are included in this report for the first time and the methodology information is available in this bulletin.

Tests are categorised by linking information from either the asymptomatic test site or information self-reported by the individual, to reference data held for each sector. LFD tests conducted only includes tests which were taken and subsequently registered and does not include tests which were not reported.

Public sector workplace testing refers to LFD tests made available to government departments to allow their employees to test twice weekly. This includes organisations such as the Department for Transport, the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Defence. Initially tests were made available via asymptomatic test sites however from the beginning of March testing migrated to home LFD self-reporting. The majority of tests are taken by staff, however in some instances individuals affiliated with an organisation may also get tested.

Community testing refers to LFD tests made available to local authorities through the Community Testing Programme. This includes testing which was initially made available to local authorities in tiers 3 and 4 but the offer has since expanded to all local authorities. More information is available at community testing for people without symptoms of coronavirus.

LFD tests taken and reported as other known settings include a variety of smaller settings where LFD tests have been made available. LFD tests taken which are not associated with a sector are reported in other - unknown. This includes tests made available to those from 9 April 2021 who were not previously eligible for LFD testing and those where limited information is captured and therefore the test cannot be linked to a particular sector.

LFD tests dispatched

The number of LFD tests dispatched counts the number of individual LFD tests which NHS Test and Trace have dispatched from warehouses between 29 September 2020 and 26 May 2021. Tests are counted by the date requested for dispatch and are counted individually, regardless of the LFD test pack size. Orders which are on hold or cancelled and stock which is distributed between warehouses are not included. The number of tests dispatched are reported for England only which is defined based on the location the item was dispatched to. LFD tests dispatched to locations outside of England are therefore not included.

The use case channel for each LFD test dispatched is captured by operational teams based on the details of the request for tests. The following types of organisations are included in each of the dispatch channels:

• nurseries, primary schools, secondary schools and colleges - also includes tests dispatched to private, voluntary and independent nurseries, further education providers and children’s care homes

• adult social care - tests dispatched to care homes, adult day centre care, hospices, extra care housing, domiciliary care and supported living

• higher education - tests dispatched to universities and other higher education providers

• NHS - tests dispatched to primary care organisations, NHS trusts and the independent sector for use by staff and non-staff

• universal offer - tests dispatched for distribution to individual homes and to pharmacies or test sites for collection. This also includes LFD tests sent to regional and local test sites when surge testing was first introduced

• private sector workplace testing - tests dispatched to private organisations including hauliers

• public sector workplace testing - tests dispatched to government organisations

• other - tests dispatched for reasons not included in the above, such as for research or evaluation studies

These numbers were extracted from live operational data on 15 June 2021. This information is received and updated internally on a weekly basis.

The number of LFD tests dispatched is not published in the existing weekly statistics for NHS Test and Trace (England).

COVID-19 app usage

Having the app fully or partially enabled on a phone means that a user has the app installed, onboarded and functional on their device. This means that the user has at some point completed the onboarding process and has not disabled the app in the operating system or by installing an alternative contact tracing app.

There are some limitations to this estimate due in part to the privacy-preserving design of the app. The figure provided is based, in part, on the count of data records received each day. There is some difference in data reporting behaviour for iOS and Android devices, requiring some estimation and extrapolation to arrive at this estimated figure.

There are some limitations to this estimate due in part to the privacy-preserving design of the app. The figure provided is based, in part, on the count of data records received each day. There is some difference in data reporting behaviour for iOS and Android devices, requiring some estimation and extrapolation to arrive at this estimated figure.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) collects this data alongside that published in the existing weekly NHS COVID-19 app statistics. Due to the design of the app, all data collected is anonymous and reporting is aggregated.

PCR test site utilisation by test site type

The data in the accompanying spreadsheet show daily values between October 2020 and March 2021 for the following measures:

• the test site capacity, which is the total number of tests a site could possibly complete on a given day based on site configuration, workforce constraint and viable throughput, assuming no constraints or site restrictions

• the number of PCR test kits registered at test sites

• the utilisation rate for test sites, which is calculated as the number of tests registered divided by test site capacity

These values are presented as daily totals across all regional test sites and all local test sites.

The data do not include mobile testing units.

These tests are all within pillar 2 of the Test and Trace programme, which relates to swab testing for the virus in the wider population. Further information on testing pillars is available in the methodology for the NHS Test and Trace statistics.

The capacity for sites in Devolved Administrations is determined by the relevant administration.

There are rare instances where test kits are registered to closed/decommissioned test sites which do not have planned capacity. Such instances are not captured as ‘kit registrations’ within this data.

The figures are extracted from operational data relating to test site bookings. Each test kit is recorded against the calendar day on which it was registered. The data were extracted after 31 March 2021 and before publication of this bulletin.

PCR test samples processed and laboratory capacity by laboratory type

The data show the total values for October 2020 and March 2021 for the following measures:

• the laboratory capacity, which is the total contracted pillar 2 PCR tests available on the reporting date

• the number of pillar 2 PCR test samples processed by laboratories on the reporting date

• the utilisation rate for pillar 2 PCR tests, which is calculated as the number of test samples processed divided by capacity

Further information about lab capacity is available on the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the UK dashboard.

The data are collected by laboratories and shared daily with operations teams who collate it. Each test sample is recorded against the calendar day where the test was completed in the lab.

The testing data include all pillar 2 samples processed by labs, samples related to surveillance testing and samples relating to vaccine trials. As part of this, they contain data from the Schools Infection Survey and from elective care tests. The data do not include any pillar 1, pillar 3 or pillar 4 samples other than ONS surveillance testing samples. Further information on testing pillars is available in the methodology for the NHS Test and Trace statistics.

The testing data include all pillar 2 samples processed by labs, including:

• tests which were not later matched with a test participant

• tests which were void, that is, unable to yield a positive or negative result

Further details on laboratory types are available in the NHS Test and Trace guidance.

Data quality and revisions

Given the importance of this service and the commitment of NHS Test and Trace to be open and transparent with the public it serves, this data is being released at the earliest possible opportunity. However, this data is management information and should be treated with caution whilst the understanding of the data and its quality improves.

An LFD test produces a result on the device almost immediately, without it being automatically recorded, therefore some results might not be captured. For settings where self-reporting LFD testing procedures are in place, it is likely that the number of tests conducted are underreported. It is however their statutory duty to do so, and easier reporting tools are being rolled out to support these individuals to report their tests as quickly and efficiently as possible. It is possible that tests with a negative result are more likely to be affected, therefore it is not advisable to calculate a positivity rate with the data.

Positive test results are not published as a proportion of the total number of tests conducted. There are several reasons why it is not advisable to calculate a positivity rate with this data:

• the number of tests conducted is not deduplicated and refers to the number of tests taken and not the number of people tested. Because people can have more than one test, the number of tests conducted therefore cannot be compared with prevalence or case positivity rates

• rapid testing is primarily used for repeat testing of asymptomatic individuals and the frequency of testing varies across different settings, therefore positivity rates would not be directly comparable

• the potential underreporting of tests conducted by individuals self-reporting is more likely to affect negative test results than positives thus skewing any positivity rate calculation

More information on data limitations and how the figures in this publication can and cannot be used is outlined in the NHS Test and Trace statistics methodology. If any substantial revisions occur in future publications of this data, this will be outlined in the publication. DHSC has published a revision policy for official statistics.