Published: 4th September 2020
Delivering COVID-19 Testing Across All UEFA Competitions
We are proud to be supporting UEFA, governing body of European football, with COVID-19 testing across all UEFA competitions from our European laboratories, including those based in the UK.
In the wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, safety and well-being is an absolute priority. SYNLAB and UEFA, are enabling UEFA matches and competitions to resume in a safe environment for the remainder of this season, as well as the 2020/21 campaign.
To ensure the safety of all players and staff involved in the tournaments, a rigorous testing procedure has been established in accordance with the relevant local laws and regulations in place. This includes:
- Testing of all players and staff for COVID-19 ahead of every match using the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) or a medically equivalent testing method
- Sample collection and testing to be conducted by SYNLAB or one of our partners
- Only players and staff testing negative for COVID-19 will be allowed to play a match and/or enter the stadium
- SYNLAB will ensure that COVID-19 testing for the UEFA competitions and matches will not have any impact on testing undertaken for hospitals or primary healthcare; and all resources will continue to be prioritised for NHS and other healthcare services
Supporting The National Effort To Fight Coronavirus
At the same time, we will continue to provide 24/7 COVID-19 testing through our NHS partnerships based in Taunton and Essex, as well as our laboratory in Abergavenny. Not only do our NHS partnerships provide regional services for NHS patients and staff locally, they’re also undertaking COVID-19 testing for the NHS elsewhere in the UK, helping to increase access to the much-needed diagnostic tests.
We continue to work with colleagues and partners across SYNLAB, in public health, the NHS and the healthcare sector to deliver reliable, proven diagnostic tests and to support ongoing research into new COVID-19 testing solutions.
I’m thrilled that we will be working in the UK & Ireland to support UEFA by testing players and staff for COVID-19. It’s great to be helping people get back to enjoying a game that’s loved all around the world.
Dr David James, SYNLAB’s Chief Medical Officer
From the outset, we have been working in collaboration with the NHS and public health bodies to support the national fight against coronavirus.
I’m incredibly proud of my colleagues, both in our pathology services and elsewhere across the SYNLAB UK & Ireland business. Everyone has made a tremendous effort to respond quickly to the coronavirus pandemic by getting essential resources to the NHS on the front-line, and by setting up and delivering COVID-19 testing to the NHS, employers and other consumers.
