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2 minute read

PerkinElmer opens Lighthouse Lab for Covid testing

PerkinElmer has announced its Lighthouse Lab in Charnwood, Loughborough is now processing Covid-19 testing samples as part of the company’s collaboration with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and in support of the government’s NHS Test and Trace programme.

The facility, operated by PerkinElmer Genomics, has begun processing samples, and with its team of 400 scientists, researchers, technicians and operations personnel, has the capacity to test up to 50,000 samples daily by early 2021.

As a result of the partnership with the DHSC, PerkinElmer has been engaged to equip, staff and manage the facility using PerkinElmer’s proprietary Covid-19 kits, diagnostic equipment, and workflow solutions.

PerkinElmer has opened its Lighthouse Lab in Charnwood, Loughborough and is now processing Covid-19 test samples / Picture: PerkinElmer

 

PerkinElmer’s managing director for UK & Ireland, Miles Burrows, said: “PerkinElmer’s ability to draw on expertise from our operations across the globe has enabled us to rapidly build a facility that will apply our best-in-class technologies to efficiently test individuals and identify those carrying the virus.

“In addition to assisting the DHSC to ramp up the nation’s testing capacity, this lab has created hundreds of new jobs locally. This has allowed us to develop and deploy a team who are ready to play such an essential role in managing this pandemic.”

The facility, which is operating 24 hours a day, has also created opportunities for graduates and those who are pursuing careers in the life sciences to start their careers at the forefront of delivering the UK’s national testing programme.

The PerkinElmer Charnwood facility has the capacity to test up to 50,000 samples daily by early 2021 / Picture: PerkinElmer

 

Health minister, Lord Bethell, added: “I am delighted the new Lighthouse Lab in Charnwood is now up and running. The lab is part of Britain’s largest ever network of diagnostic testing facilities and will support our strategy to stop the spread of the virus by helping us boost testing capacity and speed-up turnaround times. I’d like to thank everyone involved in the Charnwood lab who will play such an integral role in helping people get their test results as quickly as possible.”

Charnwood is the second Lighthouse Lab to be brought online by PerkinElmer on behalf of the DHSC. In October, the global diagnostics and life sciences leader opened the first of its Covid-19 testing operations in Newport, South Wales, which processes thousands of test samples per day.


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