The Lateral flow Covid-19 coronavirus tests used by schools are safe and do not cause cancer, the Department of Health and Social Care has said this morning.
In a tweet, the Government department said: "There are false reports that lateral flow tests can give you cancer. These rapid Covid-19 tests have been rigorously tested and are safe.
"The swabs are sterilised with ethylene oxide to ensure they are safe to use. It is one of the most commonly used sterilisation tools."
Earlier this month, the Government said new analysis of the tests showed they are 99.9% accurate.
It came after the BBC reported pupils were having to isolate after testing positive at school using the on-the-spot checks - only for a more reliable follow-up lab-based PCR test to find them negative.
The tests help to find cases in people who may have no symptoms but are still infectious and can give the virus to others.
They usually involve taking a sample from your tonsils (or where they would have been) and from your nose, using a swab and can provide a result in 30 minutes.
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