Shares of Manchester-based molecular diagnostics firm Yourgene Health plc rose about 4% after it announced that Yourgene Genomic Services COVID-19 testing services have been approved by the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

“Yourgene has been added to the UK Government’s approved list as a private provider of day two and day eight coronavirus testing for all international arrivals for both SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing and SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing testing services,” said the company in a stock exchange statement.

“It was made mandatory from 15 February 2021 that international arrivals are required to self-isolate for 10 days on return to the UK and take a PCR test on day two and day eight of the passenger’s quarantine period.

“If the test result is positive and meets the DHSC sequencing criteria, it requires sequencing in a lab for surveillance purposes to monitor Variants of Concern and Variants Under Investigation, with sequencing results reported directly back to Public Health England.

“Yourgene will provide the routine Clarigene SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing services and a new sequencing test being performed from Yourgene Genomic Services using ThermoFisher’s Ion AmpliSeq SARS‑CoV‑2 Research Panel.

“Yourgene Genomic Services can provide this COVID-19 testing service as it meets the DHSC’s 15 minimum standards and has been reviewed by UKAS, a national accreditation body recognised by the UK Government to assess against international agreed standards.

“As an experienced sequencing test laboratory, Yourgene will be able to offer the additional service now required by the UK Government to the Group’s range of COVID-19 testing partners.

“This follows on from the company receiving confirmation that it had been added to the UK Government’s approved COVID-19 private testing list for the ‘Test to Release for International Travel’ scheme introduced on 15 December 2020, and also for general coronavirus testing which was also announced in December 2020.”

Yourgene CEO Lyn Rees said: “Receiving approval to be added to the Government’s COVID-19 private provider list, for both PCR testing and our sequencing service, illustrates the high standard and service levels Yourgene has been providing under our Genomics Services offering.

“We are extremely pleased to be at the forefront of this development as travel begins to open up.”