Covid home test kits sent out with no instructions or return labels

Home testing kits were sent out with no instructions and without the required postage label to return them, the Department of Health has admitted.

A number of testing kits sent to people via the Test and Trace scheme over the past week were missing the key items, leaving people with a swab and no clear guidance on what to do with it.

The errors cover “a small number” of tests sent in the period between 14 November and 18 November, the Department of Health said.

A Department of Health and Social Care Spokesperson confirmed to i: “A small number of home test kits were dispatched without instructions and a Royal Mail return label attached to the return box provided.

“As a precaution we contacted every household that ordered a kit during the relevant time period to advise of what steps to take if they have received one of these kits.”

It is unclear how many tests were impacted.

Wrongly-assembled test kits ‘do not pose a risk’

An email to people who ordered testing kits during the period, seen by i, said: “A small number of kits ordered in that period have been dispatched without instructions, or the Royal Mail return label.

“If your kit does not include instructions, please call the customer service desk… and advise them your kit is missing these items.”

According to the email, people sent incomplete kits will be booked appointments at testing sites or sent new home testing kits.

The message stressed that “all kits sent out are approved for self-administration and do not pose any safety risk to you or your family.” It adds: “We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your help.”

Test and Trace blunders

It is only the latest in blunders relating to Test and Trace. Tory peer Dido Harding has faced calls to resign as the head of Test and Trace after the number of contacts successfully reached by tracers and told to self-isolate reached record low levels.