Lateral flow tests (LFTs) have been shown to be 95% effective at detecting Covid-19 if used at the onset of infection and soon after symptoms start, according to a new study.
The tests are cheaper than PCR assessments sent to laboratories and return results in 30 minutes rather than taking up to three days.
Researchers said earlier studies suggested LFTs may be less sensitive than PCR in detecting Covid-19. More than 2,500 people with mild to moderate flu-like symptoms were assessed by general practitioners in Liezen, Austria, between 22 October and 30 November for the study by the Queen Mary University of London, the University of Oxford, the Institute for Advanced Studies based in Vienna, and the Medical University of Graz.