diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1634195521e0ac3fa3e89678edd702824390f56d..f1e3982fd8d158687f1604980ac7eea9790fc882 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 * Add link to reference builder script
 
 **Background**
+* Change consistency test to check if +/- 1% of standard
 
 *Known Bugs*
 * Override params (inputBag, fastq, species) aren't checked for integrity
diff --git a/workflow/tests/test_consistency.py b/workflow/tests/test_consistency.py
index 2ee7b83f0c52d18d3256e1be6e3ed7f7783b1c80..1fd37989db09b7b859ca58568cf9c01d2b85934c 100644
--- a/workflow/tests/test_consistency.py
+++ b/workflow/tests/test_consistency.py
@@ -19,7 +19,12 @@ def test_consistencySE():
         test_output_path, 'SE_multiqc_data.json')) as f:
         assigned_reads_json = json.load(f)
     assigned_reads = assigned_reads_json['report_general_stats_data'][4]['16-1ZX4_sorted']['Assigned']
-    assert  assigned_reads == 7746121
+    baseline = 7746121
+    baseline_hi = baseline+(baseline*0.01)
+    baseline_lo = baseline-(baseline*0.01)
+    assert  assigned_reads <= baseline_hi
+    assert  assigned_reads >= baseline_lo
+
 
 
 @pytest.mark.consistencyPE
@@ -31,4 +36,8 @@ def test_consistencyPE():
         test_output_path, 'PE_multiqc_data.json')) as f:
         assigned_reads_json = json.load(f)
     assigned_reads = assigned_reads_json['report_general_stats_data'][4]['Q-Y5JA_sorted']['Assigned']
-    assert  assigned_reads == 2596053
+    baseline = 2596053
+    baseline_hi = baseline+(baseline*0.01)
+    baseline_lo = baseline-(baseline*0.01)
+    assert  assigned_reads <= baseline_hi
+    assert  assigned_reads >= baseline_lo