Covid-19 PCR testing companies have been criticized for having “unsafe” drop-off boxes after customers have noticed that they are flooded with uncollected samples in various locations.
Randox Laboratories offers more than 200 drop-off locations for PCR testing across the UK, but full-box stunning photos are spreading on social media.
Gavin Marshall, 51, tweeted a photo of a drop-off box in Sutton, London. There, I was forced to leave a sample for my teenage daughter who had just returned from Portugal.
He described the box as “overflowing and unsafe,” and named Landox “Covid travel ripoff.”
Marshall’s daughter, Susie, 16, returned from a six-day vacation with her friend’s family on Friday and underwent a Landox PCR test on Sunday.
When Mr. Marshall went to drop it from the box, he said he was forced to leave it and “want the best.”
He said NS: “When I saw this overflowing box, I couldn’t believe it at all. At first I was surprised that many people were submitting tests, but I was surprised that the box was unsafe. I thought it would be bigger and safer if there were biomaterials.
“When I looked up where the next closest box was, it was too far to meet the collection deadline.
“If submitted on the same day, it’s just a fresh sample. I felt I had to push it into the box and expect the best. All the other people I’m sure of. I felt the same.
“My other idea was that they might have paid for pre-travel PCR. If they don’t get it back, they could endanger the trip.”
The UK Competition Monitoring Agency (CMA) announced yesterday It was investigating the cost of PCR testing after vacationers were concerned about paying them significantly different amounts.
Minister of Health Sajid Javid He wrote to the CMA and asked him to help eradicate “exploitative behavior” and “unfair practices.” 418 private companies sell as much as £ 400 of the test.
Marshall, a teaching assistant at a special school, paid £ 43 for the test with a British Airways discount code. The accompanying documentation states that you should only use the Randox drop-off box when posting samples.
After he tweeted the photo, another Londoner replied with a photo of another box in an unknown location, flooded with tests piled up in a huge stack on top of it, saying, “You think you’re bad. Is it? “
Another said, “I had the same experience in the same place a month ago,” and another said, “Their boxes in Isleworth were the same last week.” Another answer read, “Same for Halifax.”
Labor lawmaker Ben Bradshaw tweeted:
“Calls for discarding PCR tests arriving in the UK as the data indicate that travelers are no longer likely to have Covid”
Paul Charles, CEO of a travel consulting firm at a PC agency, said the box was “a symbol of the turmoil in PCR testing.”
He added: “Personal details and samples are left available to anyone and are evidence of a private lab that is not in a hurry to improve results. They for genome sequencing, which the government is not so interested in right now. Not to mention sending. “
Marshall said her daughter’s personal information was submitted in a barcode and was not included, adding: We are not confident in getting them.
“They have clearly underestimated the demands. I expected them to manage their demands and make better plans to provide government-approved services. Without it, it’s meaningless.
“We’re talking about managing a pandemic, but it’s not trivial. I got the impression that the company wasn’t taking the pandemic as seriously as it should be.”
A Landox spokeswoman said, “All photo sample kits will be processed.”
“Landox is constantly expanding and improving its logistics network associated with Covid-19 testing capabilities to meet the rapidly growing demand resulting from the relaxation of travel restrictions, which is already the largest in the UK.” The spokesman said.
“Landox continues to grow the number of dropboxes across the UK, already over 200 in total, increasing the frequency of multiple box collections per day.
“Landox offers premium test services in dynamic and rapidly changing conditions and is committed to continually improving its logistics network to ensure that international travelers receive results in time. increase.”
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