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EXCLUSIVE: Academy bosses fear new Covid-19 rapid-testing programmes used could derail their season as they increase the possibility of false results
- Premier League academy teams have previously had a PCR testing programme
- They will give way for lateral flow tests, which produce results within 30 minutes
- However, club chiefs are anxious about the prospect of false positive results
Academy bosses are worried about the new Covid testing for squads that started this week.
Premier League Under 23 and Under 18 teams have had polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests as part of an agreed programme, having had no testing previously.
Those are in line with their senior squads but will now give way for twice-weekly lateral flow tests, which produce results in 30 minutes.
Premier League academy teams previously had a PCR testing programme but that will change
Club chiefs have told Sportsmail they have fears about false test results among young players as a consequence.
Lateral flow testing is more likely to produce false positives or negatives and there are concerns it could wreak havoc with the season.
Qualms are largely centred on false positives, which would lead to an increase in postponements and the number of academies closing.
A spate of false negatives are viewed as being similar to clubs previously not testing, given asymptomatic players could continue then anyway.
Clubs were consulted about the measures, which should help in completing the season. Most Premier League clubs are around halfway through their seasons at Under 23 and Under 18 level.
Senior squads do PCR testing too but these will make way for a lateral flow test programme
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