FOI Ref: FOI/2021/2726
You asked
Could you tell me what amplification you are currently using for PCR testing in the Dorset area?
We said
Thank you for your request. The COVID-19 infection survey (CIS) is a household survey which refers to the number of current COVID-19 infections within the community population; community in this instance refers to private residential households and it excludes those in hospitals, care homes or other institutional settings.
In the technical dataset accompanying our latest bulletin, on tab 1b, you can find the percentage of positive cases by gene pattern and Cycle-threshold (Ct) value over time for each of the UK regions. Dorset would fall under the South-West heading.
Unfortunately, we do not hold analysis on Ct values by sub-region. To provide this, we would need to create bespoke analysis. Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Public Authorities are not obligated to create information in order to respond to requests. We therefore consider this to be information not held, we therefore consider the Ct values in Dorset to be information not held.
The PCR tests that we use for our survey are processed at the UK Biobank Centre and the Lighthouse Laboratories in Glasgow. The testing centres are responsible for setting the Ct threshold and therefore, you may also wish to contact them. For more information on our testing process, please consult our methods article or our study protocol.