COVID: Defence Scientists Offer Vital Support To NHS By Carrying Out Tests

Tens of thousands of military personnel have now had COVID-19 tests before embarking on deployment.

It has been made possible after the Defence COVID Laboratory was set up as part of a partnership between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).

By setting up the testing facility, they have been able to take pressure off the NHS.

It is just one of many areas scientists at Porton Down have helped with the pandemic – including, in the early days, accessing the virus's characteristics and discovering ways to produce PPE fit test fluid quickly.

Professor Tim Atkins leads DSTL’s Chemical, Biological and Radiological division.

He told Forces News: “It’s not desirable to perform those tests within the health service at the moment because of the pressures on that.

“So DSTL has a capability to perform those tests unilaterally for the Ministry of Defence where we’re asked to.

"To date, I think we have performed about in the region of 35,000 tests.

"It’s critical in terms of providing assurance to individuals as they embark on what can be quite complicated and quite high-pressured activities."

DSTL’s logistical expertise was also called upon to help manage testing in lorry queues that built up in Kent in December.

“To be able to provide that type of quick reaction and support that helps fix a particular problem or a particular issue, that’s affecting, in this case, large numbers of people over a Christmas holiday, is a privilege."

The labs say they will continue to provide support whenever they are needed.