University of Glasgow hosts major COVID-19 testing facility

The University of Glasgow is hosting a major testing facility in the city centre to help fight the spread of COVID-19.

The Lighthouse Laboratory, which officially started testing samples on 22 April 2020, is part of what will be the biggest network of diagnostic testing facilities in British history, alongside other Lighthouse Lab sites in Milton Keynes and Alderley Park.

“It's very important for me to be here personally. My own Mum is a frontline worker.”

So thankful 🙏 to volunteers like @jodiefhay at the Glasgow @LhouseLabsUK #COVID19 Testing Centre which is now operational @POG_LRC @NHSGGC#UofGHeroes #WeAreTogether pic.twitter.com/EPRAJbtU00

— University of Glasgow (@UofGlasgow) April 22, 2020

The new Lab is part of a series of measures to increase testing and response to the pandemic across the UK and was opened in collaboration with the Scottish Government and industry experts from BioAscent Discovery Ltd and the University of Dundee’s Drug Discovery Unit. It’s located in the University’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Campus.

The Lighthouse Labs are funded by the UK Government and are being established to analyse samples taken from regional testing centres. Key worker testing will be carried out at drive-through facilities before samples are assigned and delivered to the closest Lighthouse Lab with capacity. In Scotland there are currently three regional testing centres in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.