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Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc‘s (NASDAQ:WBA) UK division Boots is launching new COVID-19 testing services to ease pressure on the NHS and the government’s programme.
The pharmacy chain is launching a new GBP120 swab test that returns results on 12 minutes.
READ: Walgreens Boots Alliance reports low summer footfall for Boots UK
It is specifically aimed at those who don’t have symptoms and want “peace of mind”, the company said, and not at those who do have symptoms or believe they may have COVID-19, since it requires customers to attend stores.
The assay is produced by LumiraDx, a private UK-based company, and was accurate in 97% of cases in trials.
Another new service will start in 10 stores this week before rolling out to 50 Boots stores throughout November, with potential to extend to 200 stores over the coming months depending on demand and feedback.
Boots said this test is available as a private pre-flight testing service for customers who require a test before travelling abroad, also if they don’t have any symptoms to avoid infecting others.
“The service is already available in ten stores in total, which are located in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow for customers travelling to UAE,” it stated.
However, the firm also noted that it is not currently approved as a pre-flight testing service, which requires a PCR test and for results to be processed via a registered lab.
This is a hot mess and needs to come with a health warning
Antigen tests are of variable reliability – they tend to miss milder infections
The company involved suggest they can be used for pre-flight screening, but admits it’s not had approval for that https://t.co/sTxlzimPdB
— Patrick Galey #BlackLivesMatter (@patrickgaley) October 26, 2020
For both services, patients can fill out a registration form and follow the instructions to book an appointment through the Boots online portal.
Shares in the wider company dipped 1% to US$37.60 in premarket trading.
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