A DORSET hospital trust has been forced to apologise to staff after an “administrative error” led to some of the key workers receiving incorrect information about the results of a coronavirus antibody test.

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust said it experienced “teething problems” leading to the issue for less than 20 members of staff.

The trust said it accepted this had caused “concern” and “anxiety” for those involved.

The tests, which prime minister Boris Johnson described as a "game changer" back in March, can tell if antibodies have been produced by the body’s immune system as it fights coronavirus and continue to be made after recovery.

It could therefore reveal whether someone has had Covid-19 although some concerns have been raised about relying on antibodies as evidence of having the virus.

Researchers have flagged potential reliability issues with the approved antibody tests, while some people appear to overcome coronavirus without producing antibodies, which would produce a negative result for an antibody test.

Additionally, there is still no certainty over if a person who gets Covid-19 obtains immunity from catching the virus again.

Nevertheless, earlier this month health secretary Matt Hancock said 40,000 of the tests were being delivered every day across the NHS and social care settings.

This includes in Dorset, with sme hospitalsl aiming to run thousands of antibody tests per day going forward.

However, Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust had to address problems during the early rollout of antibody testing.

It was revelaed that a problem led to some staff at St Ann’s Hospital in Haven Road, Canford Cliffs, being given the wrong results following a round of testing earlier this month.

Staff reportedly queried the results because some received both positive and negative tests results, or a test result when that person had not even taken the test.

Catherine Granville, deputy director for people and culture at Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are offering antibody testing to all staff, which is a test to check whether a person has had the COVID-19 virus.

“The scheme was set up rapidly and unfortunately we have experienced teething problems at what is an unprecedented time.

“In total 18 staff members, less than two per cent of those tested, received an incorrect notification about the outcome of their antibody test, which has understandably caused concern."

She added: “We are mindful of the anxiety this caused and we are contacting all those affected by this administrative error to ensure they are given the correct results and to apologise about the situation.”