UK spent $20 million on Corona Tests that didn’t work

[Smithy]

The two Chinese companies were offering a risky proposition: two million home test kits said to detect antibodies for the coronavirus for at least $20 million, take it or leave it.

The asking price was high, the technology was unproven and the money had to be paid upfront. And the buyer would be required to pick up the crate loads of test kits from a facility in China.

Yet British officials took the deal, according to a senior civil servant involved, then confidently promised tests would be available at pharmacies in as little as two weeks. “As simple as a pregnancy test,” gushed Prime Minister Boris Johnson. “It has the potential to be a total game changer.”

There was one problem, however. The tests did not work.

Found to be insufficiently accurate by a laboratory at Oxford University, half a million of the tests are now gathering dust in storage. Another 1.5 million bought at a similar price from other sources have also gone unused. The fiasco has left embarrassed British officials scrambling to get back at least some of the money.



Full story: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/04/16/world/europe/coronavirus-antibody-test-uk.amp.html

Omg :facepalm:

[arista]

Yes bad luck

[user104658]

20 million is pocket change in terms of government budgets though. It sounds like a lot of money, but it really isn't.

[DouglasS]

It’s a new virus and a pandemic. Had they not taken the risk/opportunity the exact same people would say they were stupid/careless and endangering people’s lives by not acting

[Livia]

*UK spent $20 million on corona test that didn’t work.
*Trump halts WHO funding over handling of corona
*Figures now predict UK will pass Italy in total covid deaths
*Government DELIBERATELY did not take part in EU Coronavirus scheme
*Government ignored advice to set up emergency alert system

I'm going to guess that Smithy is a glass half empty kinda guy.

[smudgie]

People are still moaning about the testing abilities.
It would be far worse if no risks were taken in finding them.

[arista]

20 million is pocket change in terms of government budgets though. It sounds like a lot of money, but it really isn't.


Yes just another bad day

[arista]

*UK spent $20 million on corona test that didn’t work.
*Trump halts WHO funding over handling of corona
*Figures now predict UK will pass Italy in total covid deaths
*Government DELIBERATELY did not take part in EU Coronavirus scheme
*Government ignored advice to set up emergency alert system

I'm going to guess that Smithy is a glass half empty kinda guy.

He is Trying to stay sharp.

[Kizzy]

20 million is pocket change in terms of government budgets though. It sounds like a lot of money, but it really isn't.

Is that the only response you have to such a mishandling of public funds?.. This is not pocket change, it's not their own private stash it's dedicated funding that has been wasted on snake oil.
How many ventilators would that have bought, how many peices of PPE?

Sorry to make an issue of your comment but excusing the govt of a gaffe like that is honestly Priti Patel level explanation.

[Kizzy]

*UK spent $20 million on corona test that didn’t work.
*Trump halts WHO funding over handling of corona
*Figures now predict UK will pass Italy in total covid deaths
*Government DELIBERATELY did not take part in EU Coronavirus scheme
*Government ignored advice to set up emergency alert system

I'm going to guess that Smithy is a glass half empty kinda guy.

I'm gonna guess that you haven't contributed anything to any of those threads that isn't a personal snipe.

[Smithy]

*UK spent $20 million on corona test that didn’t work.
*Trump halts WHO funding over handling of corona
*Figures now predict UK will pass Italy in total covid deaths
*Government DELIBERATELY did not take part in EU Coronavirus scheme
*Government ignored advice to set up emergency alert system

I'm going to guess that Smithy is a glass half empty kinda guy.

As soon as we start getting some good news I’ll post it :pipe:

[Smithy]

20 million is pocket change in terms of government budgets though. It sounds like a lot of money, but it really isn't.

20 million would make a massive difference to some NHS services that don’t even have basic PPE...

[user104658]

Is that the only response you have to such a mishandling of public funds?.. This is not pocket change, it's not their own private stash it's dedicated funding that has been wasted on snake oil.

How many ventilators would that have bought, how many peices of PPE?



Sorry to make an issue of your comment but excusing the govt of a gaffe like that is honestly Priti Patel level explanation.

It's not a mishandling though, they didn't know the tests were crap until after they had them, so it was a gamble that didn't pay off. A very small gamble that seems worth the risk.

Again, the problem with ventilators and PPE is not the cost, it's how quickly it can be produced and distributed. I know there are celebrities throwing money at it and expecting that to solve the problem, because people are used to money solving problems, but in this case it really isn't about how much is being spent.

I'm obviously not mr-defend-the-government... They should have had stockpiles of things like PPE ready to go in an emergency... But they didn't, and now the problem is not how much they're willing to spend on it. It isn't there to buy.

[user104658]

20 million would make a massive difference to some NHS services that don’t even have basic PPE...No it wouldn't.

[Kizzy]

It's not a mishandling though, they didn't know the tests were crap until after they had them, so it was a gamble that didn't pay off. A very small gamble that seems worth the risk.

Again, the problem with ventilators and PPE is not the cost, it's how quickly it can be produced and distributed. I know there are celebrities throwing money at it and expecting that to solve the problem, because people are used to money solving problems, but in this case it really isn't about how much is being spent.

I'm obviously not mr-defend-the-government... They should have had stockpiles of things like PPE ready to go in an emergency... But they didn't, and now the problem is not how much they're willing to spend on it. It isn't there to buy.

It was not a small gamble it was a stupid misinformed, ill judged and incompetent mistake. All the advise surrounding these antigen tests at the time said they were not effective and we bought them anyway. In what universe is that worth the risk?
There is PPE to buy TS, i dont agree sorry how that detracts from the useless tests I don't know, it's like sending a kid to a shop for stock cubes for gran and they come back with durex!

[Kizzy]

No it wouldn't.

It would, ask the carers in homes where there have been up to 15 deaths if they would appreciate a proportion of that to protect themselves.

[Smithy]

No it wouldn't.

I don’t think you’re in any position to say that, the people on the front line would definitely feel differently

[bots]

So, would spending money paying for researching a vaccine also be a complete waste of money if it didn't pan out with a result?

We invested in several anti body tests, it turns out that none of them work. Every country around the world has been buying the same or similar tests, none of them work, so i guess they are all bad guys too

[Cherie]

Its not like they spent 20 mil knowing they didn't work, they took a gamble which would have paid off if it did work...onwards and upwards

[Cherie]

I don’t think you’re in any position to say that, the people on the front line would definitely feel differently

The point TS is making is that its not a lack of money, its a lack of the equipment, bit like you heading out for Toilet roll a few weeks ago, you had the cash but there was none to be found, hence the need to include companies like Burberry in the making of gowns and masks

[Kazanne]

It’s a new virus and a pandemic. Had they not taken the risk/opportunity the exact same people would say they were stupid/careless and endangering people’s lives by not acting

Exactly Douglas,they cant do right for doing wrong.

[user104658]

I don’t think you’re in any position to say that, the people on the front line would definitely feel differentlyI am in a position to say that; my wife works in the NHS. They have money to buy PPE, they have orders in for PPE, there is such a high demand for PPE that they can't supply it fast enough to meet demand. That is the current situation. There is nowhere that's going without PPE "because they can't afford it".

Cherie has given the best allegory really. A month ago you could have gone to Tesco with £1000 in your pocket - you still weren't leaving with a 9 pack of Andrex, because they didn't have any. You could have gone with a million pounds. The problem is supply.

Like I said I think people are just very used to being able to solve all sorts of things by throwing money at the problem... We're used to living in a world of abundant supply. We're not used to scarcity and what that means.

It sort of reminds me of the scene in Titanic where Cal tries to buy his way onto a lifeboat and can't understand when his money suddenly doesn't mean anything.

[Crimson Dynamo]

we did not buy it...

smithy

"Tories fail to buy important testing kit"

" :facepalm: it was only 20 million, ffs this government are WORSE than the Third Reich and are responsible for everyone who died in the world since Jesus"

:idc:

[Cherie]

I am in a position to say that; my wife works in the NHS. They have money to buy PPE, they have orders in for PPE, there is such a high demand for PPE that they can't supply it fast enough to meet demand. That is the current situation. There is nowhere that's going without PPE "because they can't afford it".

Cherie has given the best allegory really. A month ago you could have gone to Tesco with £1000 in your pocket - you still weren't leaving with a 9 pack of Andrex, because they didn't have any. You could have gone with a million pounds. The problem is supply.

Like I said I think people are just very used to being able to solve all sorts of things by throwing money at the problem... We're used to living in a world of abundant supply. We're not used to scarcity and what that means.

It sort of reminds me of the scene in Titanic where Cal tries to buy his way onto a lifeboat and can't understand when his money suddenly doesn't mean anything.


Not our Most Loved trying to escape TiBB on a life raft :oh:

[Crimson Dynamo]

I am in a position to say that; my wife works in the NHS. They have money to buy PPE, they have orders in for PPE, there is such a high demand for PPE that they can't supply it fast enough to meet demand. That is the current situation. There is nowhere that's going without PPE "because they can't afford it".

Cherie has given the best allegory really. A month ago you could have gone to Tesco with £1000 in your pocket - you still weren't leaving with a 9 pack of Andrex, because they didn't have any. You could have gone with a million pounds. The problem is supply.

Like I said I think people are just very used to being able to solve all sorts of things by throwing money at the problem... We're used to living in a world of abundant supply. We're not used to scarcity and what that means.

It sort of reminds me of the scene in Titanic where Cal tries to buy his way onto a lifeboat and can't understand when his money suddenly doesn't mean anything.

people forget

every country in the whole world has the same shopping list

[Kazanne]

Not our Most Loved trying to escape TiBB on a life raft :oh:

:joker::joker:

[user104658]

Not our Most Loved trying to escape TiBB on a life raft :oh:It gets worse, when he couldn't buy his way in he stole a child :worry:. Inadvertently saving the child's life, to be fair, BUT STILL.

[Marsh.]

It gets worse, when he couldn't buy his way in he stole a child :worry:. Inadvertently saving the child's life, to be fair, BUT STILL.

Not Cal snatching Kaz's baby and taking it out to sea.

[Kizzy]

Its not like they spent 20 mil knowing they didn't work, they took a gamble which would have paid off if it did work...onwards and upwards

Yes they did know it was well reported they did not work. It's odd how people can just rewrite news to fit a narrative :/

[Kizzy]

So, would spending money paying for researching a vaccine also be a complete waste of money if it didn't pan out with a result?

We invested in several anti body tests, it turns out that none of them work. Every country around the world has been buying the same or similar tests, none of them work, so i guess they are all bad guys too

Not even nearly comparable... it's like saying we have a vaccine paying millions for it then finding out its a vaccine for measles not coronavirus. Useless and misleading. No scientist worth anything put their name to these tests as an advocate ... why,? Because it was a pointless exercise and would have been an embarrassing career ending moment. Not fir our govt, we have people cheering every piss poor effort it's just a joke. Which other country? Can you give me a for instance?

[bots]

Not even nearly comparable... it's like saying we have a vaccine paying millions for it then finding out its a vaccine for measles not coronavirus. Useless and misleading. No scientist worth anything put their name to these tests as an advocate ... why,? Because it was a pointless exercise and would have been an embarrassing career ending moment. Not fir our govt, we have people cheering every piss poor effort it's just a joke. Which other country? Can you give me a for instance?

literally every country in the world has been buying anti body tests and then trialing them to see if they provide consistent results. All the G7 countries compared notes and none found a viable test after buying them

You need to understand what these tests are ... they are a recipe of chemical components ... so even if the particular recipe didn't work, the components are still items that can be used ... they are not wasted

[user104658]

Honestly I would understand being annoyed about it if it was 2 billion, even 200 million, but 20 million is such a small amount in terms of government spending its just not worth getting wound up about. Its like being annoyed at your partner for "wasting" 50p on a new flavour of crisps and binning them because they tasted like crap.

[Cherie]

Yes they did know it was well reported they did not work. It's odd how people can just rewrite news to fit a narrative :/

Do you have a link for this claim?

[user104658]

The idea that they knew for sure they didn't work but bought them anyway is an odd one... For what possible reason? For fun? :think:

Even if it was 50/50 or less that they could find some usable function for them it would be a reasonable gamble.

The idea that they knew 100% that they were useless and just bought them anyway, presumably specifically to annoy people, is a bit of a stretch. I mean yeah the Tories are arseholes but that would be a bit much.

[DouglasS]

Yes they did know it was well reported they did not work. It's odd how people can just rewrite news to fit a narrative :/

I am asking myself that very question but in regards to your responses

[Kizzy]

literally every country in the world has been buying anti body tests and then trialing them to see if they provide consistent results. All the G7 countries compared notes and none found a viable test after buying them

You need to understand what these tests are ... they are a recipe of chemical components ... so even if the particular recipe didn't work, the components are still items that can be used ... they are not wasted

Where are you getting your information from? Which countries bought tests and how many? Why dont you educate me as to what these componants are that can be used again.......

[Kizzy]

Honestly I would understand being annoyed about it if it was 2 billion, even 200 million, but 20 million is such a small amount in terms of government spending its just not worth getting wound up about. Its like being annoyed at your partner for "wasting" 50p on a new flavour of crisps and binning them because they tasted like crap.

It's nothing like that ...for some perspective here's some info on central govt funding cuts and what they mean to local areas.
https://news.leeds.gov.uk/news/final-leeds-budget-plans-for-2019-20-announced

[Livia]

As soon as we start getting some good news I’ll post it :pipe:

Well, fair comment actually.

[Kizzy]

Do you have a link for this claim?

It's an opinion not a direct quote cherie.

I have posted articles in relation to these useless antibody tests before, I'll post them again if you like it's really easy.

[Cherie]

Yes they did know it was well reported they did not work. It's odd how people can just rewrite news to fit a narrative :/

It's an opinion not a direct quote cherie.

I have posted articles in relation to these useless antibody tests before, I'll post them again if you like it's really easy.

That's not an opinion, you are stating it as fact, yes please do post where the government paid 20 million for tests they KNEW wouldn't work

[arista]

Well, fair comment actually.


Yes Smithy is a Sharp Lad

[Kizzy]

That's not an opinion, you are stating it as fact, yes please do post where the government paid 20 million for tests they KNEW wouldn't work

It is my opinion that it was well reported, I can back that opinion with factual articles yes cherie.

Scientists have discovered that although the tests can show that a person has been infected with a coronavirus, they cannot adequately differentiate between the virus that is causing the current Covid-19 outbreak and other types of coronavirus –which just cause colds. They found that a range of devices all produced far too many false positives.

“It does seem surprising that these tests were bought with a contract that wasn’t contingent on their usability,” Clark told the*Observer. “In learning lessons through this crisis, it’s important for future contracts to recognise this risk.”


https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/11/reveal-cost-of-35m-unusable-covid-19-tests-health-chiefs-told

[Cherie]

It is my opinion that it was well reported, I can back that opinion with factual articles yes cherie.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/11/reveal-cost-of-35m-unusable-covid-19-tests-health-chiefs-told

Senior health officials are facing demands to reveal how much has been spent on millions of inaccurate coronavirus antibody tests, after it emerged that payments had been guaranteed even if the kits failed to work.

that's completely different to saying they KNEW THEY WOULDNT WORK....presumably they were the non negotiable terms of the company offering the tests, and rather than gamble with them not working they gambled with them working rather than doing nothing kizzy

[Kizzy]

Senior health officials are facing demands to reveal how much has been spent on millions of inaccurate coronavirus antibody tests, after it emerged that payments had been guaranteed even if the kits failed to work.

that's completely different to saying they KNEW THEY WOULDNT WORK....presumably they were the non negotiable terms of the company offering the tests, and rather than gamble with them not working they gambled with them working rather than doing nothing kizzy

Where did I say I or they ' KNEW THEY WOULDN'T WORK'?

They didn't and dont work that is a fact, they are not fit for purpose,they never were. There has never been any indication that any appropriate test exists.

Kathy Hall, director of Covid-19 testing strategy at the Department for Health and Social Care, revealed last week that the government was working to recoup money paid for the tests “where possible”. Asked iwhether payment was made on the assumption that the devices worked, she said: “Our overall strategy was to secure tests in order to get them validated. That meant ordering minimum volumes in order to secure them. And we wanted to make sure we had the opportunity to do that, so that was the strategy we took, yes.”

A better strategy would have been to wait for a sufficiency accurate test and buy those imo.

[Cherie]

Where did I say I or they ' KNEW THEY WOULDN'T WORK'?

They didn't and dont work that is a fact, they are not fit for purpose,they never were. There has never been any indication that any appropriate test exists.

Kathy Hall, director of Covid-19 testing strategy at the Department for Health and Social Care, revealed last week that the government was working to recoup money paid for the tests “where possible”. Asked iwhether payment was made on the assumption that the devices worked, she said: “Our overall strategy was to secure tests in order to get them validated. That meant ordering minimum volumes in order to secure them. And we wanted to make sure we had the opportunity to do that, so that was the strategy we took, yes.”

A better strategy would have been to wait for a sufficiency accurate test and buy those imo.


you clearly said here they knew they didnt work and its not me just interpreting your post as TS's response shows he interpreted in the same way


There is a difference between knowing they wouldn't work full stop, and they might work...

riginally Posted by Cherie View Post
Its not like they spent 20 mil knowing they didn't work, they took a gamble which would have paid off if it did work...onwards and upwards

Yes they did know iYt was well reported they did not work. It's odd how people can just rewrite news to fit a narrative :/

[Kizzy]

you clearly said here they knew they didnt work and its not me just interpreting your post as TS's response shows he interpreted in the same way


There is a difference between knowing they wouldn't work full stop, and they might work...

riginally Posted by Cherie View Post
Its not like they spent 20 mil knowing they didn't work, they took a gamble which would have paid off if it did work...onwards and upwards

Yes they did know iYt was well reported they did not work. It's odd how people can just rewrite news to fit a narrative :/

They knew they DIDN'T work, that is not the same as saying they WOULDN’T work.

[Cherie]

Where did I say I or they ' KNEW THEY WOULDN'T WORK'?

They didn't and dont work that is a fact, they are not fit for purpose,they never were. There has never been any indication that any appropriate test exists.

Kathy Hall, director of Covid-19 testing strategy at the Department for Health and Social Care, revealed last week that the government was working to recoup money paid for the tests “where possible”. Asked iwhether payment was made on the assumption that the devices worked, she said: “Our overall strategy was to secure tests in order to get them validated. That meant ordering minimum volumes in order to secure them. And we wanted to make sure we had the opportunity to do that, so that was the strategy we took, yes.”

A better strategy would have been to wait for a sufficiency accurate test and buy those imo.

They knew they DIDN'T work, that is not the same as saying they WOULDN’T work.


I give up

[user104658]

It's nothing like that ...for some perspective here's some info on central govt funding cuts and what they mean to local areas.

https://news.leeds.gov.uk/news/final-leeds-budget-plans-for-2019-20-announcedAn article pointing out that one town has had its budget slashed by over £250 million over 10 years is supposed to convince me that £20 million is a large sum when considered in the context of a national budget? :think: It surely demonstrates the exact opposite.

[Kizzy]

An article pointing out that one town has had its budget slashed by over £250 million over 10 years is supposed to convince me that £20 million is a large sum when considered in the context of a national budget? :think: It surely demonstrates the exact opposite.

Nope you missed the point the cut in that year of 15 million in funding led to significant cuts to services and a large increase in council tax.

[Kizzy]

I give up

Good maybe you will stop trying to twist my words now.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Number of people flying into the UK untested last week

100, 000

Don't sit on a park bench, save lives

:skull:

[Kizzy]

Number of people flying into the UK untested last week

100, 000

Don't sit on a park bench, save lives

:skull:

They're here to pick apples!! Do you want us to starve ?!

[Cherie]

Good maybe you will stop trying to twist my words now.

I didn't twist your words they are there for everyone to read

:douf:

[Cherie]

Number of people flying into the UK untested last week

100, 000

Don't sit on a park bench, save lives

:skull:

apparently these people are coming 'home' where have they been?

[Crimson Dynamo]

apparently these people are coming 'home' where have they been?

Everywhere

[user104658]

Nope you missed the point the cut in that year of 15 million in funding led to significant cuts to services and a large increase in council tax.In one town. Yes a 20 million pound cut would be bad news for a town. Has anyone said otherwise?

Are you aware that there are in fact, multiple towns and cities in the UK?

Again you're drawing false comparisons.

If you went to a village took £2000 from one family that would, for most families, be a devastating impact on their yearly budget.

If you took £2 from every house in the village no one would even notice.

Does it still not make sense?

£20 million is a very small amount of money to the UK government and in terms of national government spending. It just... is. Morality doesn't really come into it.

[Kizzy]

I didn't twist your words they are there for everyone to read

:douf:

Ah well if you just misinterpreted my posts that's fine, no harm done.

[Kizzy]

In one town. Yes a 20 million pound cut would be bad news for a town. Has anyone said otherwise?

Are you aware that there are in fact, multiple towns and cities in the UK?

Again you're drawing false comparisons.

If you went to a village took £2000 from one family that would, for most families, be a devastating impact on their yearly budget.

If you took £2 from every house in the village no one would even notice.

Does it still not make sense?

£20 million is a very small amount of money to the UK government and in terms of national government spending. It just... is. Morality doesn't really come into it.
Are you aware you are sounding very patronising?... of course I'm aware, for every town and city that have suffered these cuts of 15-20 million it is felt significantly. The point I'm making is 20 million is a lot of money, public money. They have no right to be letting it run through their fingers like water. ...

[bots]

Are you aware you are sounding very patronising?... of course I'm aware, for every town and city that have suffered these cuts of 15-20 million it is felt significantly. The point I'm making is 20 million is a lot of money, public money. They have no right to be letting it run through their fingers like water. ...

you are aware that people are dying and that our economy is ****ed right?

You do realise that anti body testing is seen as one of the best indicators by every country in the world?

You do realise that anti body tests for this virus are a brand new thing, and that money needs to be given to companies to develop it?

If you are aware of the above, what the hell is your problem other than an inherent hate for the government

[Kizzy]

you are aware that people are dying and that our economy is ****ed right?

You do realise that anti body testing is seen as one of the best indicators by every country in the world?

You do realise that anti body tests for this virus are a brand new thing, and that money needs to be given to companies to develop it?

If you are aware of the above, what the hell is your problem other than an inherent hate for the government
Are you aware how rude and irrational you sound? There is no effective antibody test... there never was.

Give companies money to develop it no problem..don't give money to countries for ineffective goods.

[Livia]

More tiresome anti-government histrionics.

[Kizzy]

More tiresome anti-government histrionics.

Again policing threads and the opinion of the forum members is not needed.. feel free to snipe away though on every thread.

[DouglasS]

How is Livia sniping, have you not seen the manner in your own posts in this very thread Kizzy because you seem quick to point out other people’s posts sending aggressive/rude but yours are coming across a little rude to me :shrug: