BioGrad Diagnostics has become the only Liverpool City Region-based laboratory to be added to The Department of Health and Social Care’s approved list of providers of the day 2 and day 8 coronavirus testing for international arrivals.

Known as the Government’s travel test package, day 2 and day 8 testing is required for all international arrivals to England during their mandatory 10 day quarantine period.

BioGrad Diagnostics is the only Liverpool organisation to be added to the list of mainly southern-based companies that meet the Government’s required standards for private sector providers of Covid-19 testing. Government approval requires being reviewed by UKAS, the UK’s National Accreditation Body who are responsible for determining the technical competence and integrity of organisations offering testing, calibration and certification services.

As well as day 2 and day 8 testing, approved companies must also provide genome sequencing to detect the strain of the virus in a positive test. BioGrad has partnered with Manchester-based Yourgene Health plc, offering a fully rounded North West-based service.

It comes as BioGrad opens its first London clinic this week near Heathrow Airport with subsequent national locations to be announced imminently. The expansion is part of a seven-figure investment that will see its operations grow across the country and the creation of 150 new jobs.

Dr Natalie Kenny, CEO of BioGrad Diagnostics, said:

“Once again this news is a further endorsement for our services and the professionalism and expertise of the BioGrad team who make our growth possible.

“I am really proud that this hard work has been further recognised by the Government. It allows us to provide even more access to our gold standard healthcare on a national scale.”

BioGrad Diagnostics is leading the way in the global fight against Covid-19. Unlike many of its competitors, BioGrad guarantees all PCR test results within 24-hours, with a guaranteed six-hour PCR service also available.

It has supplied over 250,000 Covid tests nationally since the first lockdown in March last year and has testing clinics in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool to meet the growing demand of its clients.

Anyone who requires a Covid-19 test can book to be tested by visiting the website.