(a) and (b) When samples are taken from individuals the laboratory must complete the biographic data name, surname, ID, date of birth, address etc. This information is then captured into an electronic data system which is then used to analyse and publish statistics. Unfortunately biographic data is often not fully completed by the patient and health care workers consequently we do not have a full data set of biographic data in all cases. In the case of race specifically this data is often not reported at source. Consequently we have not been reporting COVID infections and vaccinations by race, since there is also no evidence that race is a significant risk factor.
END.