Collection

COVID-19: testing initiative evaluation programme

Reports relating to the coronavirus (COVID-19) testing initiative evaluation programme.

Throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the government’s testing evaluation programme oversaw various testing initiatives. These were managed and evaluated in accordance with the Magenta Book.

These reports are being shared to add to the international body of knowledge developed during the pandemic.

COVID-19 testing: explanation

Answers to commonly asked questions about polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and lateral flow device (LFD) testing within the national COVID-19 testing programme.

COVID-19 testing: performance of LFDs

Detailed technical reports on LFD performance, including thorough analysis of 75,000 paired LFD/PCR samples collected from real world testing. Also service evaluation studies commissioned to assess resilience of the devices to new variants of concern, different testing regimes and swabbing techniques.

COVID-19 testing: evaluations of national testing programme

Here you will find a series of evaluations looking at the impact of COVID-19 testing using LFDs and PCRs.

COVID-19 testing: evaluation of various workplace and geographic testing initiatives

Here you will find a series of evaluations of different COVID-19 testing initiatives.

COVID-19 testing: evaluation of different applications of testing

Here you will find a series of evaluations of various testing approaches implemented during the pandemic.

COVID 19 testing: tackling inequalities

A series of reports looking at case studies and evaluations addressing the issue of inequalities in COVID-19 testing.

COVID-19 testing: technological innovations to improve testing

Evaluation reports of technological innovations for a variety of COVID-19 testing technologies.

COVID-19 testing: quality and governance

Documents assessing quality and governance processes used in the national COVID-19 testing programme. Also specific reports and documentation about quality in testing.

Updates to this page

Published 3 November 2022
Last updated 21 March 2024 + show all updates
  1. Restructured the collections and added 4 new pages.

  2. Added COVID-19: evaluation of pilot projects to support self-isolation.

  3. Added link to LFD tests: how and why they were used during the pandemic.

  4. Added new reports.

  5. Added Evaluation of the Automated Workcell, Assessment of swabs available for testing children under 5 and Overview of daily contact testing trial reports.

  6. Added Lateral flow device (LFD) performance data.

  7. First published.