The UK government on Sunday announced the rollout of a new nationwide antibody surveillance programme, which will make free home antibody tests available for 8,000 COVID-positive people a day.

The UK Health Security Agency will offer these finger-prick tests to help improve the understanding of immunity against COVID-19 from vaccination and infection. Under the scheme, from Tuesday, anyone aged over 18 will be able to opt in to take part when booking a PCR COVID-19 test through the NHS Test and Trace system.

The UK Health Security Agency will work alongside NHS Test and Trace testing services in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to monitor levels of antibodies in positive cases across the UK.

The data collected will help estimate the proportion of those who got COVID-19 despite developing antibodies as a result of having a vaccine or previously catching coronavirus.

The initiative could also provide insight into any groups of people who do not develop an immune response.

The UK Health Security Agency said it will use the data to inform its ongoing approach to COVID-19 and provide further insight into the effectiveness of the vaccines against different variants.