Randox sponsors Science Summer School Northern Ireland
Randox sponsors Science Summer School Northern Ireland
Monday 31st January 2022: Randox sponsors Science Summer School Northern Ireland
An official launch for Science Summer School Northern Ireland 2022 has taken place at the Ryobi headquarters in Carrickfergus.
Ryobi are the headline sponsor of the Science Summer School Northern Ireland event, which aims to inspire young people to become the next generation of scientists with an inspirational programme that mixes the best of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) through a series of seminars, discussions and hands-on experiments.
On Friday, the Deputy Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Lord Andrew Mawson OBE, Richard Mallett, and representatives from the other main sponsors, Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies, Randox, Almac, NRC and IPC Mouldings all gathered in Carrickfergus to officially launch the event which will take place later this year.
The Science Summer School initiative was established in 2012 at St. Paul’s Way Trust School in East London by Lord Andrew Mawson OBE and Professor Brian Cox CBE. The project is now expanding nationally with the aim to make ‘the UK the best place to do science and engineering in the world’.
Deputy Mayor, Councillor Matthew Armstrong, said:
“Council’s Manufacturing Task Force are delighted to be working with a range of local businesses, schools, universities and partner organisations to bring this exciting opportunity to the borough.
“We are thrilled that this event is now going accessible to young people in Mid and East Antrim.
“Our hope is that they will be inspired to embark on a future in science and maybe even become leaders in that field.”
Managing Director of Ryobi, Marco Emig, said:
“Ryobi are delighted to be the headline sponsor of this event.
“Science and the desire to learn more about how our world works, and about how we can use that information to improve how we live our lives, has never been more attractive or relevant as a subject area and a potential career path.
“We are very much looking forward to seeing the creative ideas generated from our young people.”
Lord Mawson OBE said:
“The Science Summer School initiative here in Northern Ireland will activate the curiosities of the young people who take part and hopefully inspire them to great things.
“This annual celebratory event and the allied programme of STEAM related activity throughout the year provides a vital catalyst to bring together different partners from education and enterprise. I am delighted to see so many companies have ‘signed up’ to support our first event this year.
“There is never a better time to be bringing the Science School Northern Ireland hosted by Professor Cox to Ballymena.”
For further information please contact randoxpr@randox.com
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National STIQ Day 2022
National STIQ Day 2022
14th January, National STIQ day was launched to get people thinking about the importance of sexual health and encourage everyone to get regular health checks.
More than 30 different bacteria, viruses and parasites are known to be transmitted through sexual contact. Eight of these pathogens are linked to the greatest incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STI’s). STI’s are spread predominantly by sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. Some STI’s can also be transmitted from mother-to-child during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
Any individual can catch an STI regardless of what age they are, their sexuality or how many sexual partners they have, as it only takes one sexual encounter to increase the risk of catching an infection. The importance of regular STI testing allows individuals to get peace of mind and take control of their sexual health as many infections don’t present symptoms and it’s advised that testing is required if individuals are concerned about their health, present symptoms or change sexual partner. Regular screening can aid in detecting an infection in the early stages and help to reduce the risk of such complications.
The increase in STI’s underline the need for urgent action which many reports have highlighted the need of ongoing inaction and development of strategies to improve sexual health. It has been widely noted by the CDC that over 20 million new STI’s are detected each year. (1) Public Health England also reported that 468,342 diagnoses of STIs had been reported in England in 2019 – a 5% increase from 2018 with a 26% increase in gonorrhoea infections, 10% increase in syphilis and 7% increase in the number of consultations at national sexual health services. It’s also widely noted that chlamydia testing, which is most common in young adults has declined by 13% since 2015 and 2% of all individuals tested had received a positive diagnosis. (2) (3)
Here at Randox, we offer solutions for clinical laboratories, point of care testing solutions and home STI testing kits for convenience and discretion. Randox provides the broadest STI testing menu on the market. Detecting 10 bacterial, viral, and protozoan infections, the STI test provides a comprehensive sexual health profile. The CE-marked STI Array provides the identification of co-infections, often in asymptomatic individuals and enable antibiotic stewardship.
The Randox test presents excellent precision, specificity, sensitivity and accuracy for STI diagnoses, which reduces the risk of false reporting and unnecessary confirmatory tests. The Randox simultaneous multiplex test means smaller sample volumes are required, enabling faster throughput and rapid patient diagnosis saving time and money for clinical and laboratories.
The Randox STI Multiplex test detects the following infections:
- Chlamydia trachomatis (CT)
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG)
- Trichomonas vaginalis (TV)
- Mycoplasma genitalium (MG)
- Treponema pallidum (Syphilis) (TP)
- Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1)
- Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2)
- Haemophilus ducreyi (HD)
- Mycoplasma hominis (MH)
- Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU)
Does your laboratory or clinic carry out STI testing? Our molecular analyser, the Bosch Vivalytic and Evidence Investigator, powered by patented Biochip Array Technology, could be the diagnostic solution you need!
Solutions for the Laboratory
54 SAMPLES ● 1 TEST ● 10 INFECTIONS
The Evidence Investigator is a compact semi-automated benchtop analyser ideal for medium throughput laboratories.
- Sample Type: Swab or Urine
- Sample Volume: 300 μl
- Detection Method: Randox Biochip Technology (end-point PCR)
- Time to Result: 5 hours 30 minutes
STI Testing at the Point of Care
1 SAMPLE ● 1 TEST ● 10 INFECTIONS
The Bosch Vivalytic enables sample to answer, cartridge based molecular diagnostics at
the point of care. Powered by Randox Biochip Technology.
- Sample Type: Swab or Urine
- Sample Volume: 300 μl
- Detection Method: Randox Biochip Technology (end-point PCR)
- Time to Result: 2 hours 30 minutes
For more information about our STI Arrays or Vivalytic email: marketing@randox.com
- https://www.cdc.gov/std/life-stages-populations/adolescents-youngadults.htm
- https://www.tht.org.uk/news/rise-stis-underlines-need-urgent-action
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (who.int)
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Randox and PayPoint partner to boost accessibility of Day 2 lateral flow tests
The updated collaboration opens up PayPoint’s extensive retail network to offer increased convenience to travellers returning to the UK
Randox and PayPoint have today announced an expansion of their partnership, to boost access to COVID-19 testing and provide a vital service to travellers returning to the UK, in line with the Government’s new arrival requirements for Day 2 testing, announced on Wednesday 5th January.
The expanded partnership between PayPoint and Randox will mean even easier access to low-cost COVID-19 testing, by enabling people to order a Randox test online for click and collect at a local store within the Collect+ network, initially available in over 5,000 locations, and soon in over 10,000 locations nationwide.
The service launches on 7th January 2022 to coincide with changes to travel policy which, from 4am on 9th January, allows fully vaccinated arrivals from non-red list countries to take a lateral flow (antigen) test, with a PCR test only required if a positive lateral flow result is returned.
In addition, from mid-January, PayPoint will give consumers the ability to walk into a local store and pick up a test immediately in over 2,500 locations, with no need to order online. This service will be offered in partnership with major convenience retailers including Scotmid Co-operative and Spar in the North West and Scotland.
Dr Peter FitzGerald, Managing Director at Randox said: “By drawing on our 40 years’ diagnostics experience, unparalleled testing capacity, and well-established logistics network, which now includes an extensive number of new locations from PayPoint, Randox is able to respond quickly to changing travel requirements and simplify the process of ordering Day 2 lateral flow tests.
“The availability of value for money tests that can be collected at the customer’s convenience thanks to our partnership with PayPoint means people in the UK don’t need to wait for home delivery or a walk-in clinic appointment when ordering a COVID-19 test.”
Nick Wiles, Chief Executive at PayPoint said: “Our expanded partnership with Randox will deliver yet another vital service to help keep people safe in communities across the UK. Consumer convenience and accessibility are at the very heart of what we do and this is another example of our agility, responsiveness and the great relationships we have with our retailer partners in the ever-changing landscape across the UK.”
Day 2 lateral flow tests must be ordered before travel to England and can be ordered from 4am on 7th January. Thanks to the updated collaboration between PayPoint and Randox, people can now conveniently collect these tests from local stores for just £18.95, rather than waiting at home for deliveries to arrive.
Using the free Randox CertiFly App results are processed within 3 hours and a report delivered in-app and via email, allowing arrivals into England to complete their Day 2 test conveniently in the comfort of their own home, and for individuals who test positive, potentially reducing the amount of time they need to isolate.
Visit covid.randox.com to purchase COVID-19 tests from Randox Health.
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Further expansion at Randox labs with immediate start vacancies available
Further expansion at Randox COVID labs with recruitment drive for new staff
Randox Laboratories is hiring more new staff in support of its COVID-19 testing operations at the Randox Science Park in Antrim.
The healthcare diagnostics company has significantly increased its workforce since the beginning of the pandemic and continues to recruit to enhance its laboratory capacity within the UK’s National COVID-19 Testing Programme, and for those requiring PCR testing before travel.
Vacancies are available across science, accessioning, manufacturing and customer support.
Dr Peter FitzGerald, Managing Director of Randox Laboratories, commented;
“With our headquarters in the Randox Science Park in County Antrim, we are fortunate to benefit from Northern Ireland’s incredible talent pool across a variety of disciplines, and so many have already responded to our call for support in fighting the coronavirus.
“Our staff have risen to the challenge this pandemic has created, been incredibly resourceful and flexible, and pulled together as a team to make an impact in the fight against COVID-19. They are our best asset and we are very proud of their efforts.”
Last month Randox reached a significant testing milestone, with 21 million tests completed since its testing began.
Thanks to significant private investment, Randox’s testing capacity, which in March 2020 was just 150 tests per day, has now increased to 180,000 daily PCR tests, the same number as at the height of the pandemic.
Dr FitzGerald continued;
“The completion of over 21 million gold-standard PCR tests is testament to the hard work and dedication of all our staff.
“We continue to play a vital role in the national network of testing, which is of critical importance and remains a key part of the response to COVID-19 – not only to identify outbreaks, isolate cases and prevent further spread, but also to assist with a return to social and economic normality.”
Anyone interested in joining Randox’s COVID-19 Testing Programme should apply at https://randox.getgotjobs.co.uk/
Job roles available include:
- Laboratory Analysts
- Sample Processing Operatives
- Laboratory Support
- Customer Support Advisors
- Manufacturing Technicians
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Evaluation of Omicron Variant to Ensure Test Effectiveness
7th December 2021
Evaluating Omicron and Other SARS-CoV-2 Variants to Ensure Test Effectiveness
SARS-CoV-2, like all viruses, evolves over time through mutations, as it spreads and replicates. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with different sets of mutations, have been observed worldwide. Most changes have little impact on the virus’ properties. However, some may cause increased transmissibility, severity of disease or the ability to evade the host immune response. Surveillance of genetic variations is therefore crucial to identify those variants which pose a higher risk to human health.
Variants may impact the performance of current diagnostic approaches. This is why Randox continuously review public genomic databases to assess whether any emerging mutations overlap with the assay design and monitor assay performance as part of post-market surveillance efforts to ensure the coronavirus assays continue to meet the highest quality standards.
In light of the emergence of the new variant of concern detected in South Africa, Omicron (B.1.1.529), Randox have analysed all publicly available sequences of the variant to predict any impact of defining mutations on assay designs.
As the COVID-19 assays from Randox Laboratories Ltd. are designed using a dual-target approach (ORf1ab, E gene) to reduce the impact of genetic variation in the SARS-CoV-2 genome, detection of SARS-CoV-2 is not predicted to be affected by the currently known variants.
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 using the Vivalytic rapid RT-PCR tests, targeting the E gene sequence are not affected by the identified mutations. Assay performance is not predicted to be impaired by the current known variants.
Randox Laboratories Ltd., in collaboration with leading technology manufacturer Bosch Healthcare Solutions, have developed a range of COVID-19 testing solutions, providing clear and concise results in a timely manner, directly at the point of care. Randox is a distributor for Vivalytic platform and cartridges.
For all enquiries regarding our COVID-19 assays performance , please contact marketing@randox.com
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Randox welcomes CMA moves to safeguard consumer interests around PCR testing
3rd December 2021
Randox Statement: Randox welcomes CMA moves to safeguard consumer interests around PCR testing
Responding to today’s announcement by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), a spokesman for Randox said:
“We welcome the role played by the CMA, with our full co-operation, in ensuring that consumers continue to get a fair deal during the Covid emergency.
“Randox has been happy to engage fully with the CMA from the outset to ensure in the interests of its customers while the company delivers millions of Covid-19 PCR tests to facilitate vital international travel against the changing requirements of governments.
“As the industry leader, Randox has been in the ideal position to both review the services required to support the international traveller and provide a consumer-industry standard of Terms and Conditions. These have, of necessity, evolved over time.
“In working with the CMA, Randox’s aim has been to ensure absolute fairness whilst building and providing critical services in a highly volatile and demanding environment.”
Additional Information
Randox has today welcomed engagement with the CMA to optimise Covid-19 PCR testing support for international travel whilst ensuring the sustainability of critical national services.
As the industry leader Randox has been in the ideal position to both review the services required to support the international traveller, and provide a consumer-industry standard of Terms and Conditions, which have evolved over time. In working with the CMA Randox’s aim has been to ensure absolute fairness whilst building and providing critical services in a highly volatile and demanding environment.
“Both industry and the travelling public have faced significant pressures in enabling international travel,” said a spokesperson. “From an industry perspective Government required immediate and large scale investment to establish validated end-to-end testing services, supported by nationwide logistics, with fully secure reporting to both individuals and Government. Yet there were no contracts, no expected duration for services and the requirement was based on a single product – Covid-19 PCR testing. It was also evident that Government would remove the requirement for such testing as soon as practicable and would not provide any further support.”
The spokesperson went on; “At the same time as requiring significant investment and a rapid response from industry, Government retained the right to alter demand on an almost daily basis and did so frequently by moving countries between the green, amber and red lists with no notice. Government subsequently removed the country lists entirely and effectively closed the requirements for international travel PCRs by moving to lateral flow devices in October – only months after establishing services.” The decision by the Prime Minister to reintroduce PCR testing at very short notice this week, without prior notice to industry, further illustrates the challenges faced.
It had also been clear that the public were faced with highly variable pricing by a number of suppliers – some advertising low prices, but which were only available in very limited circumstances – something Grant Shapps asked the CMA to review. “From the very start Randox committed to highly competitive and transparent pricing which was available across the nation,” said the spokesperson. “Our home testing kits are available at an all inclusive price of £43 with a click and collect service at £34.99 – we know that these represent excellent value for money.”
Randox’s engagement with the CMA has provided the ability to review consumer-industry terms and conditions in the light of very hard won experience. “We do hope that other providers will consider our terms and conditions,” said the spokesperson, “and we know that the CMA will provide further guidance where required.”
The spokesperson went on; “We at Randox are very proud of what we have achieved in very demanding and volatile circumstances. We have built and sustained a reliable and cost effective service to enable international travel – meeting critical business needs and ensuring friends and families can continue to meet. We are committed to providing this service for as long as Government requires.”
For all media enquiries, please contact Ian Monk on ian@ianmonk.com or +44 7970 026072 / + 44 203 011 1933
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Randox Health launches COVID-19 Travel Centre in Enniskillen
25th November 2021: Randox Health launches COVID-19 Travel Centre in Enniskillen
A COVID-19 Testing Service launches this week in a new Randox Health Travel Centre in Enniskillen, offering COVID tests from just £30.
The testing service from Randox, a laboratory partner in the UK’s National COVID-19 Testing Programme, offers rapid lateral flow (LFD) tests – with results in just 60 minutes – for those who are eligible to take an LFD for their Day 2 testing requirements.
The service in Enniskillen will also provide gold-standard PCR testing for those who need it for pre-departure screening, on-arrival testing on Day 2 and Day 8, or simply for peace of mind, with Express PCR tests returning results in as little as 3 hours.
Sophie Boyd, Project Manager for the Randox COVID-19 Testing Service, explained;
“In addition to our Travel Centres at Belfast International Airport, Belfast City Airport, Holywood and Crumlin, we are pleased to expand our testing service to Enniskillen, to serve the Fermanagh area with our accurate and cost-effective COVID-19 tests.
“Whilst travel guidance during the pandemic continues to evolve, testing will remain a key part of the response to COVID-19 – not only to identify outbreaks, isolate cases and prevent further spread, but also to assist with a return to social and economic normality.”
From 4am on 31st October 2021, changes to travel guidance for those arriving in Northern Ireland from countries not on the red list came into effect.
For vaccinated passengers, lateral flow (antigen) tests may now be used for post-arrival testing as an alternative to PCR testing, with a photograph of the completed lateral flow test required in order to verify the result.
Sophie continued;
“In support of changes to government travel guidance, our COVID-19 testing service has evolved to now include lateral flow testing in addition to our gold-standard PCR testing, and Randox is recognised as a provider of both services on the official government list.
“Randox is committed to providing competitive, effective and efficient testing to support holidaymakers and those undertaking international travel and the opening of the Randox Health Travel Centre in Enniskillen is another positive step towards the normalization of travel and other social activities.”
The Randox Health Travel Centre in Enniskillen is open to all asymptomatic individuals and is conveniently located on the Tempo Road.
Randox COVID Testing is also available at Randox Health Travel Centres at Belfast International Airport and Belfast City Airport, and in Randox Health Clinics in Holywood and Crumlin.
Visit booking.randox.com to book your appointment. Prices are included below.
| Service | Price |
| PCR Next Day (Result before 11:59pm) | £55 |
| PCR Express (Results in 1-3 hours) COMING SOON | £90 |
| Antigen Rapid Test | £30 |
| Day 2 PCR | £55 |
| Day 8 PCR | £55 |
| Day 2 Antigen | £35 |
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A slam-dunking new partnership agreed between Randox Laboratories and Olimpia Milano
Monday 22nd November 2021: A slam-dunking new partnership agreed between Randox Laboratories and Olimpia Milano
Global health diagnostics company Randox Laboratories has been announced as the official Diagnostics Partner of Olimpia Milano basketball team, in a new partnership spanning the remainder of the 2021/22 season.
Taking effect immediately, the new deal will see the sporting institution have access to Randox technology to perform a variety of health testing on Olimpia’s athletes and wider support staff. The cutting-edge health testing programme will include COVID PCR and lateral flow testing, a capability Randox already provides for international travel requirements and the UK’s National Testing Programme.
Adding to Randox’s existing portfolio of sports sponsorships which include the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic and Paralympic Teams, the Aintree Racecourse Randox Grand National, and Sheffield United Football Club, the agreement with Olimpia Milano is the first venture into the European sports industry for the global testing company, which has an office in Rome from which it sells its pioneering tests and machines to hospitals, universities and veterinary centres across Italy.
Giulio Saule, Randox Sales Manager for North Italy, explained;
“Randox is tremendously proud to be associated with a sporting organisation as prestigious as Olimpia Milano and to have the opportunity to bring our testing capabilities, including COVID testing, out of the standard laboratory setting and on to the court, so that players and coaches may directly benefit from our world-leading diagnostic technologies.
“Our clinical tests and analysers have useful applications for sports science to help measure, predict and develop athletic performance, and so we look forward to working with the squad to not only ensure COVID-safe exercise and games, but to enhance their training plans for optimal results.”
Founded in 1982 in County Antrim by leading medical scientist Dr. Peter FitzGerald CBE, Randox has been saving lives through early and accurate diagnosis for almost 40 years. Today more than 5% of the world’s population – in excess of 370 million people across 145 countries – receives medical diagnosis through use of Randox products each year.
To achieve its goals the company is committed to an extensive research programme, which includes the investment of more than £300m in the development of its innovative biochip array technology which allows many tests to be run simultaneously, greatly improving the diagnostic power available to clinicians. The company currently employs more than 2000 people of over 40 different nationalities.
Dr. Peter FitzGerald, Managing Director of Randox Laboratories, is thrilled at the new Olimpia Milano partnership and expansion into the European sports industry, stating;
“We understand the importance of comprehensive and reliable testing within sport and furthermore the significant reach for our preventative health messaging when channelled through the power of sport. As a global market leader within the clinical diagnostics field, it was a ‘no-brainer’ for Randox to partner with a similarly ambitious sporting organisation leading the way in both the Lega Basket Serie A and the EuroLeague.
“We look forward to working alongside Olimpia Milano – working together to push the boundaries of healthcare and enhance team performance as the season progresses.”
Christos Stavropoulos, General Manager of Olimpia Milano, concluded;
“We are very excited for this new partnership with Randox, which has been well-known across the life sciences industry in Italy for many years but is now also a household name for its COVID testing laboratories which have grown to be one of the largest and most productive in Europe. We are extremely impressed with their operation and look forward to working together as both organisations go from strength to strength in the years ahead.”
For further information please contact James Crilly; james.crilly@randox.com / 028 9442 2413
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Ministers and MPs Praise Randoxās āLife-Savingā Role In Delivering Mass Testing During Pandemic
18th November 2021
Speaking in the House of Commons on behalf of the government on November 17, Health Minister Gillian Keegan praised Randox’s 40 years of experience in testing and diagnostics. She confirmed to the House that as early as March 2020, Randox already had lab-based PCR testing capacity for Covid-19.
Recognising the imperative of testing as a weapon against the pandemic and facing a shortage of proven testing capacity, she said “the Government had made the common sense decision to work with companies that had existing diagnostic capability.”
The Minister continued: “The initial challenge that (Randox) faced was the challenge facing governments the world over: a shortage of machinery and transport. Nonetheless, it quickly overcame them to play a critical role in our pandemic response.”
She also confirmed that in June 2020, Randox was ahead of all other labs in process, plans, and reporting. A six-month-extension was agreed in September 2020, and by March 2021 Randox was exceeding contract targets, processing more than 120,000 tests in a single day.
Keegan said to date, that Randox has carried out over 15 million tests for Covid-19, and identified over 700,000 positive cases. “That is 700,000 people who might otherwise have gone on to spread the disease,” She continued: “As a result of this testing capacity, they received the right advice to isolate, thereby protecting their friends, their family and society at large.”
Her recognition of Randox’s crucial role in combatting the pandemic at its height was echoed by Maggie Throup MP, Minister for Vaccines and Public Health, who said that working with Randox was a decision which had “saved many thousands of lives”.
She told the House: “contracts with companies such as Randox have been some of the essential building blocks without which we would never have built what is now one of the largest testing networks in the world.”
Throup said she “utterly rejected” the idea that Randox had received any kind of special treatment.
“Our partnership with Randox is simply a reflection of the situation in which we found ourselves in March 2020”, she clarified, “facing a global pandemic of unknown and unprecedented proportions and acting as a responsible Government should. We worked against genuine fears that we would run out of vital testing equipment, that we would not have the capacity to test people and that the deadly virus might continue to spread from person to person, silent and undetected.”
“Working with Randox was the right thing to do, it was the responsible thing to do and, quite simply, it was a decision that has saved many thousands of lives”, she told MPs.
For all media enquiries, please contact Ian Monk on ian@ianmonk.com or +44 7970 026072 / + 44 203 011 1933
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House of Commons Debate | Randox Statement
17th November 2021: House of Commons Debate | Randox Statement
Randox will be pleased to co-operate fully in laying before the House all the material required.
Public disclosure will demonstrate the extraordinary efficiency and value for money provided by Randox through contracts awarded in full compliance with government regulations at a time of national crisis.
Contrary to much of what has been written and broadcast, lobbying played no role in the awarding of these contracts.
The company has 40 years experience in testing and diagnostics. It is proud of its performance and delivery under the contracts awarded to it on merit by the Government. They resulted in the delivery of more than 21 million Covid tests, 15 million of them to the National Testing Programme from the start of the emergency in the Spring of 2020.
At this time, hindered by global shortages and less experience than Randox, other laboratories were simply not able to provide whole-system capabilities to deliver the tests which the World Health Organisation and the UK government agreed were crucial to combating the pandemic.
11th November 2021: COVID Contracts | Randox Statement
Randox states categorically that political lobbying played no role in the award of Covid contracts to the company. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) contracts to provide Covid-19 testing were awarded on merit to Randox as the largest healthcare diagnostic company from the UK. The entire process was transparent and compliant with government regulations in a time of national crisis.
Randox has almost 40 years experience in testing and diagnostics: it was one of the first companies in the world to develop a Covid-19 test and to have developed extensive laboratory, IT and logistic infrastructure to support large scale testing operations. The decision to award Covid-19 contracts was fully validated by the company’s performance and delivery under the terms of the contracts.
The company was awarded its initial Covid contract on 30 Mar 20 and, within a short period, had exceeded the initial Covid-19 testing capability of the entire NHS.
Subsequent DHSC planning required Randox to deliver 17,000 tests per day by the end of April and more beyond then. To facilitate and ultimately enable these extraordinary levels of delivery, Randox was temporarily allocated 5 extraction systems from universities in order to increase capacity. DHSC directed the Army to collect equipment, in line with their support for all Pillar 2 laboratories.
This was a pragmatic and transparent move by the DHSC to meet a critical national need to save lives and ease overwhelming pressure on the NHS. The extraction systems were returned once the systems ordered by Randox, against the backdrop of a global shortage of such equipment, had been delivered and installed.
Randox and its staff have striven tirelessly and innovatively to support the national Covid-19 testing effort. We are proud of our collective achievement at a time of crisis in being the only Pillar 2 laboratory to have reported in excess of 100,000 Covid-19 results in one day.
For all media enquiries, please contact Ian Monk on ian@ianmonk.com or +44 7970 026072 / + 44 203 011 1933
