§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services in respect of tests of the efficacy of the Karpas AIDS cell test kit conducted by members of the public health laboratory service on 3 and 4 June 1987, what test slides, laboratory notes, and serum samples used in the test slides have been preserved; and where this material is now retained.
§ Mr. Newton[holding answer 16 June 1988]: I understand that the test slides were destroyed as is the usual practice. Laboratory notes transcribed to computer records, and serum samples, have been maintained at the Central Public Health Laboratory.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) why the report of the PH LS and DHSS evaluation of commercial anti-HIV test kits conducted by the virus reference laboratory displays at table C(3) results as to the efficacy of the Karpas AIDS cell test kit which differs in substantive detail from the signed interim report of the same evaluation, dated 8 June 1987 with regard to the description of an HIV seropositive serum sample testing as equivocal and a seronegative serum sample testing as positive; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what procedures in respect of the report of the PHLS and DHSS evaluation of five commercial anti-HIV test kits conducted by the virus reference laboratory resulted in the alteration of the data reported in the signed interim report of the evaluation, dated 8 June 1987, as compared with that displayed at table C(3) of the draft final report; and what the consequences of this alteration were in terms of the reported sensitivity and specificity of the Karpas AIDS cell test.
§ Mr. Newton[holding answer 16 June 1988]: The interim report was a summary which did not evaluate the findings in detail. The draft final report rested on the same data obtained at evaluation, but gave a fuller interpretation of it. A further evaluation has been offered.