Boris Johnson has just talked about a massive expansion of rapid result home testing kits which seem to be the saliva tests made by Innova. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/28/10-of-englands-population-could-be-tested-for-covid-19-every-week

The evidence supporting this test is really weak. The Government study reported here has meaningfully no detail at all. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/assessment-and-procurement-of-coronavirus-covid-19-tests/lateral-flow-devices-results

You can see the CE Marking for the Innova Test here. A few comments on it follow. https://1drv.ms/b/s!AgDubbkGwEvVxAigDCVOELZr_1Qn?e=2cMJ1r

First point.

It's not a home test. It is "intended for use by trained clinical laboratory personnel specifically instructed and trained in the techniques of in vitro diagnostic procedures."

Second point.

It is not for use for people without symptoms.

Third point.

It is only designed for use "within the first five days of the onset of symptoms."

A leading academic in the field has told me: "If a company was marketing the test with these statements the MHRA would act to stop them as it is putting the population at risk. It is truly dreadful that the Government is proposing this."

We had spent approximately £130m as of 2 October on tests that are going to be used for a purpose otherwise than that for which they were designed and which will be administered by people not trained to administer them.

I can't help but feel that the exercise might help the Prime Minister's standing in the polls but it's hard to see how it helps public health.