In the press
Featuring all coverage the IBMS has secured within the media
This page is updated regularly. Read our statements and responses that are press released and sent to media and political contacts.
National TV
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt discusses the vaccine roll-out (video above)
BBC News Channel, 14 April 2021
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson
Wales Live, BBC One Wales, 4 February 2021
Interview with Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt
TRT World (Turkish TV), 29 January 2021
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt discusses COVID-19 immunity
BBC News Channel, 14 January 2021
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson
Bloomberg TV, 23 December 2020
Interview with IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt: Why is a new coronavirus variant causing concern?
TRT World (Turkish TV), 21 December 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson
BBC News, 16 November 2020
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt takes questions from viewers
BBC News Channel, 2 November 2020
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt
Bloomberg TV, 19 October 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson (from 10m 35s)
STV News, 14 October 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson
BBC News, 7 October 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson
Sky News, 6 October 2020
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt
BBC News Channel, 1 October 2020
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt
BBC News Channel, 1 October 2020
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt takes questions from viewers
BBC News Channel, 21 September 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson (from 21m)
BBC Scotland The Nine, 17 September 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson
Channel 5 News, 17 September 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson
BBC Scotland The Nine, 16 September 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson
Sky News at 7pm, 15 September 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson
BBC One News at 6 and 10pm, 14 September 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson
Sky News, 9 September 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson
BBC One News at 6 and 10pm, 3 September 2020
Interview with Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt discussing the reported COVID-19 reinfection case in Hong Kong
BBC News, 24 August 2020
Interview with Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt
TRT World (Turkish TV), 24 August 2020
Interview with Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt
TRT World (Turkish TV), 20 August 2020
COVID-19 testing news report (IBMS President Allan Wilson on data sharing)
Channel 5 News, 1 July 2020
Interview with Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt
TRT World (Turkish TV), 9 June 2020
Some vulnerable people can go outside for first time in 10 weeks (IBMS President Allan Wilson on Track and trace)
Channel 4 News, 1 June 2020
Interview with Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt
BBC World News, 14 May 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson
Sky News, 11 May 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson
Sky News, 29 April 2020
Interview between IBMS President Allan Wilson and Dermot Murnaghan
Sky News, 22 April 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson
BBC Newsnight, 21 April 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson
China Global Television Network Europe, 21 April 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson (from 6m 10secs)
BBC One Scotland, The Nine, 20 April 2020
Interview between IBMS President Allan Wilson and Victoria Derbyshire (not currently available on iPlayer)
BBC One and BBC News, 15 April 2020, 9.15am
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson and Kay Burley
Sky News, 7 April 2020
National Radio
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt interview
LBC, 26 April 2021
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt interview (watch video)
BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, 22 April 2021
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt interview with Gabby Logan
BBC Radio Wales, 22 April 2021
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt interview with John Pienaar
Times Radio Drive, 14 April 2021
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt interview with Gabby Logan
BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, 13 April 2021
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt interview
BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, 6 April 2021
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt interview
BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast - Your call, 31 March 2021
IBMS President Allan Wilson interview
Today Show, BBC Radio 4, 30 March 2021
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt interview
This Week, RTE, February 2021
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt interview (from 6mins)
Saturday Breakfast, BBC Radio 5 Live, 13 February 2021
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt interview
BBC Wales, 3 February 2021
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt interview
BBC Scotland, 3 February 2021
IBMS President Allan Wilson interview
World at One, BBC Radio 4, 2 February 2021
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt interview
BBC Wales, 27 January 2021
IBMS Virology Chief Examinert Dr Sarah Pitt interview
BBC Scotland, 27 January 2021
IBMS President Allan Wilson interview
LBC, 19 January 2021
IBMS Virology Chief Examinert Dr Sarah Pitt interview
LBC, 12 December 2020
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt (from 43m 50s)
BBC Radio 5 Live, The Emma Barnett Show, 19 November 2020
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt (from 10m)
BBC Radio 5 Live, 5 Live Breakfast, 17 November 2020
IBMS President Allan Wilson interview
BBC Radio Scotland, Good Morning Scotland, 12 November 2020
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt (from 2h 40m)
BBC Radio 5 Live, 5 Live Drive, 2 November 2020
IBMS Fellow Dr Sarah Pitt interview
LBC, 26 October 2020
IBMS President Allan Wilson interview
BBC Radio Scotland, Good Morning Scotland, 19 October 2020
IBMS President Allan Wilson interview (from 22m)
BBC Radio Scotland, Good Morning Scotland The Weekend Edition, 17 October 2020
IBMS President Allan Wilson interview (from 10m)
BBC Radio 4, The World Tonight, 16 October 2020
IBMS Fellow Dr Sarah Pitt interview
BBC World Service, Science in Action, 15 October 2020
IBMS President Allan Wilson interview (from 1h 5m)
BBC Radio Scotland, Good Morning Scotland, 14 October 2020
IBMS President Allan Wilson interview
BBC Radio 4, The Today Programme, 7 October 2020
IBMS Virology Chief Examiner Dr Sarah Pitt (from 17 m)
BBC Radio 5 Live, 5 Live Drive, 5 October 2020
IBMS Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt interview
LBC, 29 September 2020
IBMS Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt interview (from 41m 35s)
BBC Radio 5 Live, Saturday Breakfast, 26 September 2020
IBMS President Allan Wilson interview (from 13m 40s)
BBC Radio Scotland, Good Morning Scotland, 19 September 2020
IBMS Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt interview with Adrian Chiles (from 2h 6m 45s)
BBC Radio 5 Live, Chiles in Friday, 18 September 2020
IBMS Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt interview with Nick Ferrari
LBC, 18 September 2020
IBMS President Allan Wilson (from 14m 55s)
Radio 4, The World Tonight, 15 September 2020
IBMS President Allan Wilson
Times Radio, Drive Time, September 2020
IBMS President Allan WIlson takes calls from the public with Nicky Campbell (from 4m)
BBC Radio 5 Live Your Call, 15 September 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson (from 2h 10m)
BBC Radio 4 Today show, 10 September 2020
IBMS Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt interview with Nicky Campbell (from 2h 7m)
BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast 10th July 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson (from 2h 43m)
BBC Radio Scotland Good Morning Scotland, 25 August 2020
IBMS Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt interview (from 9m)
BBC Radio Wales Breakfast 25 August 2020
IBMS Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt interview with Nicky Campbell (from 2h 12m)
BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast 10th July 2020
IBMS Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt interview with Rachel Burden (from 2h 39m)
BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast 31st July 2020
IBMS Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt interview with Nicky Campbell (from 6m 20s)
BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast 10th July 2020
IBMS Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt interview with Nicky Campbell (from 1h 52m 30s)
BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast 8th June 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson (from 1h 50m)
BBC Radio Scotland Good Morning Scotland, 4 June 2020
IBMS Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt
BBC Radio Scotland, 21 May 2020
IBMS Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt (from 2h 55m)
BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, 21 May 2020
IBMS Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt interviewed by James Whale (from 8m 30s)
Talk Radio, 20 May 2020
IBMS Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt interviewed by Nick Ferrari
LBC Radio, 19 May 2020
IBMS President interviewed on Good Morning Scotland (from 13m)
BBC Radio Scotland, 9 May 2020
IBMS President interviewed by Nick Ferrari
LBC Radio, 7 May 2020
IBMS Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt interviewed by James Whale (from 21.00-21.30, 5m 18s)
Talk Radio, 1 May 2020
IBMS President Allan Wilson interviewed by Julia Hartley-Brewer
Talk Radio, 30 April 2020
IBMS President Allan Wilson interviewed by Nicky Campbell (from 1h 7m)
BBC Radio 5 Live, 29 April 2020
IBMS President talks to presenter Nihal Arthanayake (from 34 m 17 secs)
BBC Radio 5 Live, 27 April 2020
IBMS President Allan Wilson interviewed by Eddie Mair
LBC Radio, 24 April 2020
IBMS President Allan Wilson takes questions from callers
BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast Show, 23 April 2020
Interview with IBMS Virology Panel Member Dr Sarah Pitt
LBC, Nick Ferrari show, 23 April 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson (from 30m 10secs)
BBC Radio 4, The World Tonight
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson (from 1h 5m 30secs)
BBC Radio Scotland, 18 April 2020
Interview with IBMS President Allan Wilson (from 44m 11 secs)
BBC Radio Scotland, 15 April 2020
LBC Radio
9 April 2020
BBC Radio 4, 5 and 6 news bulletins
4 April 2020
BBC Radio 5 Live Stephen Nolan show (from 7m 30 secs)
3 April 2020
National and International news (digital and print)
Covid: 'Israel may be reaching herd immunity'
BBC, 14 April 2021
Society must live with ‘substantial mortality rate’ from Covid, Sage member says
The Independent, 5 March 2021
How well does the AstraZeneca vaccine work? An expert reviews the current evidence
The Conversation, 4 March 2021
How and Where to Travel Safely This Summer: Coronavirus Q&A
Bloomberg, 25 February 2021
Lessons learned? Leading experts on exactly what needs to be done now in the fight against Covid-19
The Sunday Post, 21 February 2021
Covid: We could live with virus 'like we do flu' by end of year, says Hancock
BBC News, 13 February 2021
What you need to know about AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine
Deutsche Welle, 12 February 2021
Covid: Cardiff University testing system 'fatally flawed', ex-boss claims
BBC News, 3 February 2021
New COVID-19 vaccines: here’s how the promising Novavax and Johnson & Johnson jabs work
The Conversation, 3 February 2021
Will we EVER outwit this mutating virus?
The Daily Mail, 1 February 2021
Experts Debunk Untrue Coronavirus Vaccine Conspiracies And Myths
Unilad, 29 January 2021
Massive coronavirus testing lab due to open in Scotland is hit by delay as officials reveal they have yet to secure a building
The Sunday Post, 17 January 2021
Covid testing capacity expected to fall short as UK cases surge
The Financial Times, 22 December 2020
Your questions about the new Covid-19 strain answered by an expert virologist
The Scotsman, 16 December 2020
UK warns of threat from new Covid-19 variant
Financial Times, 14 December 2020
London to enter toughest coronavirus restrictions
Financial Times, 14 December 2020
Labs' labour lost
Private Eye, 1535 20 November 2020
Nicola Sturgeon shamed as Scotland testing LESS people than England
Daily Express, 16 November 2020
News Special: Two of three new NHS testing labs will not be ready on schedule as care homes warn quicker turnaround is crucial to prevent another disaster
The Sunday Post, 15 November 2020
‘Back to normal by spring’: are we expecting too much from the first COVID-19 vaccines?
The Conversation, 12 November 2020
Boris Johnson warned to ‘get it right’ on coronavirus vaccine rollout as he’s told: You have one shot
Evening Standard, 11 November 2020
Coronavirus: Up to 50,000 cancers going undiagnosed due to COVID, report finds
Sky News, 29 October 2020
Covid in Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon plays down row over testing delays
BBC, 20 October 2020
Revealed: How Health Secretary snubbed expertise of UK’s laboratory scientists after mistaking their professional body for a private firm
Sunday Post, 18 October 2020
Boris Johnson 'won't hit target of 500,000 Covid tests a day by end of month'
Telegraph, 16 October 2020
Leaking vials supplied for NHS test and trace, say whistleblowers
The Guardian, 16 October 2020
Universities expose uneven playing field on Covid testing
Financial Times, 15 October 2020
Living With COVID-19 Doesn't Mean Letting Large Numbers of People Die
National Interest, 14 October 2020
Can we actually learn to live with coronavirus? Not until we have a vaccine
The Conversation, 13 October 2020
Coronavirus: NHS cancer tests for thousands could be delayed as they sit in warehouse due to 'logistics failure'
Sky News, 7 October 2020
Covid-19: Supply chain problems could delay NHS tests
The BMJ, 7 October 2020
UK’s Covid-19 testing system hit by supply chain failure just DAYS after huge IT blunder saw 16,000 cases go unreported
Russia Today, 7 October 2020
UK's COVID-19 testing system hit by Roche supply problems
Reuters, 7 October 2020
Testing capacity at risk after Roche warehouse supply problems
Telegraph, 7 October 2020
UK’s Covid testing kits under threat as diagnostics firm Roche suffers supply break down
al Khaleej Today, 7 October 2020
NHS laboratories could run out of crucial materials for Covid-19 tests within days after supply chain failure at Roche
Daily Mail, 7 October 2020
Coronavirus test PANIC as supply chain failure leads to deadly shortage – ‘Nightmare!’
The Daily Express, 7 October 2020
Patients' access to vital NHS tests delayed by warehouse failure
BBC, 7 October 2020
NHS labs hit by shortage of vital kit and chemicals for Covid tests
FT, 6 October 2020
How the leading coronavirus vaccines work
The Conversation, 6 October 2020
Super-lab designed to meet rising demand is delayed by a month
The Times, 3 October 2020
The government’s obsession with catchy slogans is distracting us from serious failings
The Independent, 29 September 2020
The wrong kind of test tubes: Why NHS labs can’t help clear coronavirus testing backlog
The Sunday Post, 27 September 2020
The ghostly 'lighthouse' lab that's proof testing is on the rocks
The Daily Mail, 26 September 2020
‘Lack of qualified staff’ responsible for ‘predictable’ delay in opening Newport Covid-19 lab
Nation Cymru, 26 September 2020
Revealed: The inside story of the ‘Dunkirk labs’ and the test and trace fiasco
Evening Standard, 23 September 2020
Lab rats
Private Eye 1530, 22 September 2020
Covid-19: What's going wrong with testing in the UK?
BMJ, 21 September 2020
Students strain the system
Scottish Daily Mail, 21 September 2020
Coronavirus in Scotland: outbreaks at universities add to strain
The TImes, 21 September 2020
Dismay as Britain faces up to prospect of new coronavirus lockdown
The Observer, 20 September 2020
News Special: Student parties rage on as experts warn Covid testing system could be crushed
The Sunday Post, 20 September 2020
Here's Who Is Actually Running NHS Test And Trace (Dr Valerie Bevan, IBMS Fellow)
Huffington Post, 18 September 2020
Staff shortages, hazardous samples, and physically gruelling tasks ... inside the secretive Lighthouse labs
The Telegraph, 18 September 2020
Exodus of academics from Lighthouse Labs prompts drop in testing capacity, experts say
The Telegraph, 17 September 2020
Coronavirus: Ministers told to mobilise network of UK laboratories to boost testing
The Independent, 16 September 2020
Six months on from the coronavirus outbreak... and the Government is still clueless
The Daily Mail, 16 September 2020
‘A chaotic mess’: The UK’s Covid-19 testing programme is falling apart
Wired, 15 September 2020
Private labs unable to process all Covid tests, NHS email reveals
The Guardian, 15 September 2020
Boris Jonson seeks experts to staff Covid-19 testing labs
The Mail on Sunday, 13 September 2020
A mission impossible: Leaked document reveals Scottish Government advisers’ verdict on Boris Johnson’s Moonshot coronavirus testing programme
The Sunday Post, 13 September 2020
Johnson Pledges Millions of Covid Tests But U.K. Labs Can’t Cope
Bloomberg, 12 August 2020
Coronavirus: what will happen if we can’t produce a vaccine?
The Conversation, 13 August 2020
A coronavirus vaccine may require boosters — here’s what that means
The Metro, 29 July 2020
Dr Miriam Stoppard: Our test and trace system is a failure, warn experts
The Mirror, 9 July 2020
UK set to award Covid-19 testing contracts worth £5bn to private bidders
The Guardian, 2 July 2020
Coronavirus: why we should end the pandemic ban on reusable cups
The Conversation, 1 July 2020
Coronavirus: Scientists warn over expansion of Covid-19 mega-labs
The Independent, 30 June 2020
Into the fog: How Britain lost track of the coronavirus
Reuters, 29 June 2020
Inside the coronavirus mega-labs
The Independent, 29 June 2020
Failing the test: Slow start and flawed decisions in Britain’s coronavirus testing have cost lives, warn health leaders
The Independent, 28 June 2020
Can animals catch and spread coronavirus?
The Telegraph, 22 June 2020
Too slow and fundamentally flawed: why test and trace is a weak and inequitable defence against covid-19
The BMJ, 11 June 2020
Current testing system would not allow targeted lockdowns, Royal College head warns
The Telegraph, 31 May 2020
Coronavirus testing hit by struggle to match results with NHS records
The Guardian, 28 May 2020
Exclusive: NHS Labs Were Frozen Out Of Coronavirus Testing Programme, Says Top Scientist
Huffington Post, 15 May 2020
U.K. Coronavirus Testers Pay Price for a Day of Triumph
New York Times, 15 May 2020
Antibody tests: all your questions answered
The Daily Telegraph, 11 May 2020
UK sends 50,000 coronavirus samples to US for testing after technical problems
The Guardian, 10 May 2020
UK government Covid-19 testing target 'source of real frustration'
BBC, 9 May 2020
Coronavirus in the UK: Boris Johnson's double-or-nothing 200,000 testing target puts 'incredible pressure' on labs
iNews, 9 May 2020
Coronavirus: Government must set out better testing strategy to help UK exit lockdown, says laboratories chief
The Independent, 8 May
Has the government really hit 100,000 tests a day, and what happens next?
Full Fact UK, 2 May 2020
Coronavirus: Why biggest challenge is yet to come on testing
BBC, 2 May 2020
Coronavirus test shortages will be worse if Premier League returns in June, expert warns
i News, 1 May 2020
Expert warns coronavirus test only effective on symptomatic people as cases go undetected
Daily Express, 29 April 2020
UK universities join the NHS in efforts to meet coronavirus testing target
Daily Express, 27 April 2020
New swab processing lab opens at King’s College London
ITV Report, 27 April 2020
Leading scientist warns government blueprint is needed for Scotland-wide testing
Daily Record, 26 April
Government opens up coronavirus testing stations to supermarket and transport staff in desperate bid to use excess capacity
The Daily Mail, 21 April 2020
How the UK’s coronavirus testing regime totally unravelled
Wired, 20 April 2020
'Major UK city should be used to trial mass coronavirus testing'
The Observer, 19 April 2020
Capacity for virus testing is underused, admits No.10
The Daily Telegraph, 17 April 2020
Coronavirus testing kits 'could be delivered by Amazon with results sent by text'
Mirror, 17 April 2020
Coronavirus self-testing kits 'to be delivered to UK homes by Amazon'
Evening Standard, 17 April 2020
Coronavirus swab kits could be delivered to UK homes by Amazon in pilot scheme as figures show HALF of Britain's testing capacity is going to waste
Daily Mail, 17 April 2020
UK unlikely to hit 100,000-a-day virus test target, warn experts
Financial Times, 16 April 2020
More than half of coronavirus tests not being used
The Times, 16 April 2020
Coronavirus: Government boosts testing capacity to 35,000 a day but says ‘not enough demand’
Independent, 16 April 2020
Here’s How The UK Plans To Go From 16,000 Tests A Day To 100,000 By The End Of The Month
Buzzfeed, 10 April 2020
NHS staff forbidden from speaking out publicly about coronavirus
The Guardian, 9 April 2020
Pandemic shows us why a strong science community is essential – Rebecca Wright
The Scotsman, 7 April 2020
Government plan to roll out antibody testing attacked
Financial Times, 6 April 2020
Government's 100,000-a-day coronavirus testing pledge 'not achievable', fear scientists
Mirror Online, 5 April 2020
Matt Hancock looks emotional as he reveals he's lost 'two people he was fond of' from the coronavirus outbreak during national press conference
Daily Mail, 5 April 2020
NHS officials 'screaming' at factory chiefs for more tests: Manufacturers say they have been 'completely overwhelmed' by demand and cannot 'magic ten million kits out of thin air'
Daily Mail, 5 April 2020
100,000 Tests A Day ‘Is Impossible’: NHS Scientists Warn Matt Hancock’s Plan Is In Serious Doubt
Reporter.AM, 4 April 2020
100,000 tests a day 'is impossible': NHS scientists warn Matt Hancock's plan is in serious doubt
Daily Mail, 4 April 2020
UK coronavirus testing: Matt Hancock confirms 100,000 test target won't include antibody tests
inews, 3 April 2020
Health specialists 'frustrated' at lack of resources to ramp up Covid-19 testing
Express and Star, 3 April 2020
Scientists ask for more detail on UK’s coronavirus testing target
Financial Times, 3 April 2020
Why has the UK lagged behind in testing for the coronavirus?
The Guardian, 3 April 2020
UK opens first COVID hospital but criticism of testing plans mount
Euractiv.com, 3 April 2020
UK ministers struggle to keep promise of 100k coronavirus tests by end of April
The Guardian, 3 April 2020
'We're at risk, just like doctors': the NHS staff fighting coronavirus behind the scenes
The Guardian, 31 March 2020