PET PET
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
Become a Friend Donate
  • About Us
    • People
    • Press Office
    • Our History
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Friend of PET
    • Volunteer
    • Campaigns
    • Writing Scheme
    • Partnership and Sponsorship
    • Advertise with Us
  • Donate
    • Become a Friend of PET
  • BioNews
    • News
    • Comment
    • Reviews
    • Elsewhere
    • Topics
    • Glossary
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Previous Events
  • Engagement
    • Policy and Projects
      • Resources
    • Education
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
    • People
    • Press Office
    • Our History
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Friend of PET
    • Volunteer
    • Campaigns
    • Writing Scheme
    • Partnership and Sponsorship
    • Advertise with Us
  • Donate
    • Become a Friend of PET
  • BioNews
    • News
    • Comment
    • Reviews
    • Elsewhere
    • Topics
    • Glossary
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Previous Events
  • Engagement
    • Policy and Projects
      • Resources
    • Education
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements
PETBioNewsNewsFertility clinics charge up to £400 for coronavirus tests

BioNews

Fertility clinics charge up to £400 for coronavirus tests

Published 19 June 2020 posted in News and appears in BioNews 1052

Author

Dr Hannah Somers

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.

Private fertility clinics are charging up to £400 for prospective couples to take coronavirus tests, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has learned...

Private fertility clinics are charging up to £400 for prospective couples to take coronavirus tests, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has learned.  

Private fertility clinics closed on 23 March (see BioNews 1040) under government restrictions, and were required to obtain HFEA approval before they were able to reopen in the week commencing 11 May (see BioNews 1045), subject to HFEA guidance, which did not call for testing.

Sarah Norcross, of the Progress Educational Trust fertility charity, said: 'Fertility clinics should not be seeking to profit from the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be some necessary additional costs to fertility treatment because of the need for COVID-19 tests and personal protective equipment (PPE) for fertility patients prior to starting an IVF cycle, but clinics must not over-charge for such tests.'

Several clinics are charging large sums for COVID-19 tests. At CARE Fertility, where tests are not compulsory if the patients are symptom-free, the charges are £150 for the antigen test and £45 for the coronavirus antibody test to see whether individuals have already been infected and recovered from the viral infection. If a patient has symptoms they are referred to the NHS.

Fertility Plus has made nose and throat swabs, and blood tests prerequisite conditions for women to undertake their procedures. Their partners may also be required to be tested, at an additional £150. 

HFEA guidance to clinics wishing to reopen did not state that IVF patients should be tested for COVID-19. Clinics have to submit a written 'COVID-19 Treatment Commencement Strategy', including detailed risk assessments and new standard operating procedures incorporating social distancing in waiting rooms. Clinics also had to detail their use of PPE and remote telephone appointments where possible. The HFEA said: 'We made it clear that we expect clinics to act responsibly and, if they must charge for these tests, the charges should be reasonable. '

The expensive COVID-19 tests add to the already complicated situation for patients restarting or initiating delayed treatment cycles due to the coronavirus. 

Sources and References

  • 15/06/2020
    Daily Mail
    Fertility clinics' covid test rip-off: Couples face paying up to £400 for coronavirus tests at IVF centres

Related Articles

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
21 January 2022 • 2 minutes read

Victorian state government apologises for, and reverses, IVF treatment pause

by Joseph Hawkins

The government in Victoria, Australia has reinstated fertility treatment services 'paused' due to COVID-19 in the state at the beginning of January...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
Comment
3 August 2020 • 4 minutes read

IVF: A Test Case — Whether, When and How Clinics Should Test Patients and Staff for COVID-19

by Dr Valerie Shaikly

A timely review and discussion of best practice, guidelines and practical realities surrounding COVID, with an emphasis on testing...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
Comment
26 June 2020 • 4 minutes read

How to safely deliver fertility treatments in the COVID-19 era: the controversy of guidelines

by Dr Thanos Papathanasiou

The Health Secretary's announcement on 1 May 2020 that fertility services in the UK could apply to reopen was a message of hope for all those who depend on fertility treatment for having a baby.

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
Comment
11 May 2020 • 6 minutes read

Access to IVF in the time of COVID-19

by Dr Imogen Goold

Following the cessation of all fertility services on 23 March 2020, fertility patients have been waiting to learn when they will be permitted to recommence treatment...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
1 May 2020 • 3 minutes read

IVF clinics can apply to reopen after COVID shutdown

by Georgia Everett

The Government has announced that fertility clinics are able to apply to reopen from 11 May...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
Comment
27 April 2020 • 5 minutes read

Improving choices for fertility patients during a pandemic

by Sarah Norcross

We welcome the UK government's two-year extension to the legal limit on the storage of eggs, sperm and embryos, but more needs to be done for fertility patients during and after the coronavirus pandemic...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
20 March 2020 • 2 minutes read

Fertility clinics asked to suspend treatment due to coronavirus

by Christina Burke

New guidance has called for fertility clinics in the UK to minimise treatment amid the coronavirus pandemic...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

« CRISPR trial shows promising results for sickle cell and thalassaemia

Data-Label The UK's Leading Supplier Of Medical Labels & Asset Labels

RetiringDentist.co.uk The UK's Leading M&A Company.

Find out how you can advertise here
easyfundraising
amazon

This month in BioNews

  • Popular
  • Recent
8 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Placenta and organ formation observed in mouse embryo models

8 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Lower hormone doses may improve IVF egg quality

8 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Boosting muscle cell production of gene therapy proteins

1 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

First UK medical guidelines issued for trans fertility preservation

1 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Male age has more impact on IVF birth rate than previously thought

8 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Placenta and organ formation observed in mouse embryo models

8 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Complex structures of the human heart bioengineered

8 August 2022 • 1 minute read

Brain tumour gene also linked to childhood cancers

8 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Lower hormone doses may improve IVF egg quality

8 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Boosting muscle cell production of gene therapy proteins

Subscribe to BioNews and other PET updates for free.

Subscribe
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Wellcome
Website redevelopment supported by Wellcome.

Website by Impact Media Impact Media

  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements

© 1992 - 2022 Progress Educational Trust. All rights reserved.

Limited company registered in England and Wales no 07405980 • Registered charity no 1139856

Subscribe to BioNews and other PET updates for free.

Subscribe
PET PET

PET is an independent charity that improves choices for people affected by infertility and genetic conditions.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Wellcome
Website redevelopment supported by Wellcome.

Navigation

  • About Us
  • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • BioNews
  • Events
  • Engagement
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us

BioNews

  • News
  • Comment
  • Reviews
  • Elsewhere
  • Topics
  • Glossary
  • Newsletters

Other

  • My Account
  • Subscribe

Website by Impact Media Impact Media

  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements

© 1992 - 2022 Progress Educational Trust. All rights reserved.

Limited company registered in England and Wales no 07405980 • Registered charity no 1139856