Publication - Research and analysis

Coronavirus (COVID-19) asymptomatic testing programme: evaluation - November 2020 to June 2021

Published: 14 December 2021
Directorate: Population Health Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care
ISBN: 9781802018004

This evaluation report examines the asymptomatic testing programme in Scotland. It covers the period November 2020 to June 2021.

Supporting documents

Footnotes

1. Coronavirus (COVID-19) - testing strategy: update - March 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

2. Coronavirus (COVID-19): Strategic Framework update - February 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

3. Coronavirus (COVID-19) - testing strategy: update - March 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

4. COVID-19 Daily Dashboard | Tableau Public

5. COVID-19 weekly report for Scotland - COVID-19 data and intelligence - COVID-19 - Our areas of work - Public Health Scotland

6. PHS COVID-19 Education report (shinyapps.io)

7. Public attitudes to coronavirus: tracker - data tables - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

8. Coronavirus (COVID-19) support study experiences of and compliance with self-isolation: main report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

9. Compliance with self-isolation and quarantine measures: literature review - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

10. Source: PHS weekly report

11. Though we recognise some individuals may use LFD testing to 'check' early symptoms, we refer to the pathways as asymptomatic and finding asymptomatic cases throughout. This is how they would be used in workplace and critical function pathways, where regular testing occurs. For other pathways that are not connected to work though, even if being used as an early 'check' these cases may not have been found without the easy availability of LFD testing.

12. Source: PHS weekly report. In the PHS dashboard Health and Social Care workers are divided by relevant professional category, but within the Scottish Government the evaluation of Health and Social Care pathways was brought together.

13. This table is an adapted version of the table included in the weekly Public Health Scotland COVID-19 Statistical Report published on 30 June 2021. The PHS Weekly report provides a range of information on testing data and trends: https://publichealthscotland.scot/media/8300/21-06-30-covid19-publication_report.pdf

14. The Health Care Workforce asymptomatic testing programme had a phased rollout. On 9th December 2020 interim guidance on expansion of twice weekly testing to patient facing staff within hospitals, the Scottish ambulance service and Covid-19 assessment centres was published. In January 2021 the programme was expanded to include the community workforce, district nurses and Covid-19 vaccinators, and then further expanded in February 2021 to include patient facing primary care staff (general practice, pharmacy, dentistry, optometry) as well as Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS24 call handlers. Finally, on 17th March 2021, the programme was expanded to all NHS staff.

15. The drop in June is due to staff in Scotland's two private prisons, Addiewell and Kilmarnock, moving to a different LFD testing pathway.

16. Weekly (now fortnightly) polling carried out by YouGov for Scottish Government. Sample of c.1000 adults 18+ across Scotland each week – representative of the population. Fieldwork carried out on mainly the dates shown (Tuesday-Wednesday in any week), with a small number of interviews carried out on the Thursday morning.

17. See: Coronavirus (COVID-19) support study experiences of and compliance with self-isolation: main report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

18. Coronavirus (COVID-19) support study experiences of and compliance with self-isolation: main report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

19. From the pupil survey: 5% of respondents said they were engaged with testing but did not plan to continue and the main reason given was the test being uncomfortable/unpleasant.

20. What do we know about lateral flow tests and mass testing in schools? | The BMJ (oclc.org)

21. Evaluation of the Lateral Flow Device Testing Pilot for COVID-19 in Merthyr Tydfil and the lower Cynon Valley (cwmtafmorgannwg.wales)

22. Coronavirus (COVID-19): Scotland's testing strategy - adapting to the pandemic - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

23. Increased Intensity Of PCR Testing Reduced COVID-19 Transmission Within Countries During The First Pandemic Wave | Health Affairs

24. Lessons learnt in transitioning from universal screening to universal testing of pregnant patients for SARS-CoV-2 at the largest municipal health system in America | Journal of Perinatology (nature.com)

25. Regular rapid testing for everyone - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

26. Order coronavirus (COVID-19) rapid lateral flow tests - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

27. Regular rapid lateral flow coronavirus (COVID-19) tests - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

28. Surge testing for new coronavirus (COVID-19) variants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

29. Browse the Registry - Research Registry

30. COVID-19 testing: One size does not fit all | Science (sciencemag.org)

31. Pooled testing with replication as a mass testing strategy for the COVID-19 pandemics | Scientific Reports (nature.com)