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Two facilities in Scotland to conduct 2019-nCoV testing

The Scottish Government is setting up two facilities, one each in Glasgow and Edinburgh, for testing possible cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

The existing NHS laboratories at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh are being geared up with the latest technology to test for 2019-nCoV. Starting 10 February 2020, the two laboratories will start processing all tests from Scotland. If a test result returns positive, the sample will be sent to Public Health England’s Colindale laboratory in London for confirmation.

With establishment of the two facilities for 2019-nCoV testing, negative test results are expected to be returned sooner. Earlier, all samples were sent to London for testing. As of now, all tests performed on Scottish patients have been negative, but there is a strong likelihood of witnessing a positive case in Scotland.

Dr Catherine Calderwood, Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer, said: "Ever since the beginning of this global outbreak we have been working hard to develop a testing facility within Scotland. I am pleased that we will now have two Scottish facilities, greatly reducing the time it takes to confirm negative results."


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