A NORTH-EAST medical and hygiene product firm has revealed demand for lateral flow tests have soared as employers fight to protect their businesses and workforce.

Durham-based Medi-Inn (UK) Ltd, which supplies medical and hygiene consumables including everything from air freshener to personal protective equipment (PPE), has reported a surge in demand from businesses for rapid, lateral flow tests.

Lateral flow tests can produce results in around 15 minutes and are being offered in the community to people without symptoms, who may be spreading the virus without realising.

It comes as coronavirus cases continue to rise across the UK, while the number of Covid-related deaths in County Durham reached a sad milestone this week, with a death toll of over 1,000 since the pandemic began.

Since November, Medi-Inn, which has received tens of thousands of orders from businesses across the UK, has seen shipments doubling on a weekly basic – a "reassuring" indication that businesses are "being responsible", according to Medi-Inn chiefs.

Whilst demand for lateral flow tests is highest in industries such as manufacturing, engineering, warehousing and transportation, Medi-Inn has also seen significant demand from professional service firms keen to bolster their efforts in reducing the spread of the virus.

The test, which works in a similar fashion to a pregnancy test, gives employers a way to quickly identify contagious staff before they risk passing it on to colleagues.

The lateral flow test is carried out on-site by taking samples from the nose and throat, with the result then displayed via a portable immunoassay screening cassette, which measures the presence or concentration of a molecule.

As well as lateral flow tests, the firm supplies a wide range of consumables and has seen a significant increase in demand for PPE throughout the pandemic.

It supplies items such as face masks and visors, latex, vinyl, nitrile, virtile and ecogloves; protective clothing, as well as disinfectants, antibacterial and coronavirus cleaning products.

Wayne Dobson, managing director of the firm, said: “To be able to play a part in helping businesses roll out effective testing programmes to protect their businesses and workforce is something we are really proud of.

“It’s reassuring to see so many businesses being responsible, purchasing PPE and tests to try and keep Covid-19 out of the workplace as much as possible.

“The fact we have been able to manage the high levels of demand for PPE and tests throughout the pandemic, because we have established strong and robust supply chains with reliable suppliers, is also something we are delighted with.”

Some 67 other local authorities in England were announced to roll out quick-result community testing programmes, for asymptomatic people, but the regimes are at different stages across the region.

Durham County Council is yet to roll out its lateral flow testing programme, while Sunderland has stopped theirs.

Local authorities on Teesside were all also on the list of councils receiving lateral flow tests from government.