FALSE negative Covid-19 tests produced by a laboratory in Wolverhampton are part of the reason for Wales' high case rate, according to first minister Mark Drakeford.

Earlier this month it was revealed the laboratory had incorrectly identified tests as free of Covid-19, when in fact the people in question did have the disease.

Of the around 43,000 incorrect results produced by the lab, around 4,000 were in South Wales, according to the Welsh Government.

Meanwhile, Wales currently has a higher rate of Covid-19 infections than at any other time during the pandemic.

Although it is known that residents in the areas covered by the Aneurin Bevan health board - which covers Gwent - and Cwm Taf Morgannwg boards, the precise numbers involved are unknown. Public Health Wales has confirmed that they are investigating the effects of the issue along with the UK Health Security Agency.

Speaking on BBC Radio Wales yesterday, Friday, morning, Mr Drakeford said Wales' high number of cases of Covid-19 were the result of a number of factors - including the false negatives.

"Thousands of people in some parts of Wales were misdiagnosed by the laboratory in Wolverhampton that told people they were negative when they were positive took the advice and went back into work and were infectious to other people," he said.

"It's not the complete explanation but it is part of the explanation."

Eluned Morgan, health minister for the Welsh Government, said in a written statement about the tests: “This involves technical issues at the laboratory that has led to some people being given incorrect results between September 8 and October 12.

"We have been informed this issue is isolated to this laboratory and does not involve the wider network including the IP5 laboratory in Newport that processes the majority of Welsh samples.

“UKHSA have looked into the number of tests from Welsh residents processed at the affected laboratory and estimate around 4,000 people may have been given inaccurate results.  We assess the majority of these tests will have been taken at testing sites across the Gwent and Cwm Taf Morgannwg areas.”

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A spokesman for Public Health Wales said: “Public Health Wales, along with UKHSA, are currently investigating the wider effects of the issues related to PCR testing in the private laboratory in England.

“Everyone who was affected by this issue has been sent a text message from the GOVUK NHS Test & Trace messaging service. We strongly recommend that everyone who received a text message books a new PCR test.

“Anyone who has coronavirus symptoms should book a PCR test as soon as possible, stay at home and self-isolate until they have a test result.”

The majority of those affected were in the South-West England.

The swabs that were affected were processed from September 2, but the oversight was not picked up by Immensa’s quality control processes or the UKHSA.

The UKHSA suspended work at the lab on October 12 after a number of people complained.