Freedom of Information request on the ingredients in the swab within lateral flow tests (FOI 21/1015)
Published 25 February 2022
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30th September 2021
FOI 21/1015
Dear
Thank you for your request for information dated 3rd September 2021, where you asked for ‘… the full ingredients of the swab itself. That includes all materials solids, liquids and gases uses to manufacture, sterilise and packaging…’ for both the Covid-19 Lateral Flow Tests (LFTs) and PCR tests following an adverse reaction.
I can confirm that the MHRA do not hold the information that you have requested. There are various manufacturers who produce both the LFTs and the PCR tests. If you have the details of the manufacturer of the test you used, then the MHRA recommend that you contact the manufacturer directly for information about the manufacture and composition of their swabs.
If the LFTs used were by ‘NHS Test and Trace’, then you may wish to contact the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) as the legal manufacturer who may hold information relevant to your request.
Similarly, information regarding the manufacture and composition of the swabs used for PCR tests will be held by the individual manufacturer. You may wish to contact your test provider who may provide you with details of the manufacturer.
You mentioned in your email that you experienced an adverse reaction ‘to the lateral flow test swab for Covid-19’. The MHRA encourages the reporting of adverse incidents with a medicine or medical device using the Yellow Card Scheme which can be accessed via the following link: https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/.
If you have a query about the information provided, please reply to this email. Yours sincerely,
MHRA Customer Service Centre
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU
Telephone 020 3080 6000