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The astonishing setback comes a blow to health chiefs as they try to intensify Britain's testing efforts amid criticism they are lagging behind other countries. Laboratories have been warned of delays after traces of the virus were detected in key components ordered from overseas and due to arrive in the coming days, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The paper said the Government had hired private firms to help produce thousands of kits so mass testing will be available to the public within weeks. But Luxembourg-based supplier Eurofins has told officials a consignment of parts called probes and primers had been contaminated with coronavirus and would be held up. Eurofins acknowledged “an issue” and insisted other private providers had suffered similar problems. CORONAVIRUS LATEST:Coronavirus map LIVE: UK's terrifying REAL death toll released

Coronavirus test kits were found to be contaminated

It is unclear how the equipment became tainted by the virus but senior UK health sources told the Telegraph the delay would not significantly affect the UK’s testing regime. Ministers were already facing mounting criticism about UK coronavirus testing capacity as a confusing picture began to emerge from Westminster. Downing Street has accused Public Health England of providing ministers with incorrect information after Michael Gove claimed 10,000 tests had been completed on Sunday when Only 8,278 tests were carried out in the 24 hours to 9am on Sunday morning.

Hospitals are gearing up for a coronavirus onslaught

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said Mr Gove was referring to the capacity available, rather than the actual number completed, which had been lower. Mr Gove said a Government target of 10,000 tests per day had now been reached and scaled up to 25,000 tests per day by mid-April. But official figures published by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) showed just under 7,000 people had been tested, significantly lower than Mr Gove had claimed. Health minister Helen Whately then told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We have achieved the capacity to have 10,000 tests a day. "The actual number that was tested on the day in question was I think around 7,000.” DON'T MISS

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Minutes later, PHE said 9,114 tests had been carried out between Friday morning and 9am on Saturday. PHE also claimed “testing capacity for patient care stands at 10,949 a day”. Whitehall sources said PHS failed to make clear the distinction between the capacity available and the number that had actually been completed.

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