COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19 Coronavirus IgG ANTIBODY Test Kit - £99
(Vacutainer)
This test is highly accurate. The global manufacturer of this assay has recently won UK approval from PHE, and they are keen to point out that the validation study was carried out on venous samples. Results of this study are below.
- 100% Sensitive at detecting IgG antibodies in people who have been ill from Covid-19 at 14 days or more after their first symptoms.
- 99.6% Specific. This means that there were only 0.4% of people that gave blood before SARS-CoV-2 or had a respiratory illness that was caused by another virus who tested positive for IgG antibodies (false positives)
This is an excellent test. Highly specific. Highly sensitive.
What does a positive Covid Antibody result mean?
A positive IgG result will confirm antibodies of the IgG class against Coronavirus (Covid-19). This informs us, with a high degree of confidence, that the patient has been infected by this virus at least a week before the sample was taken. The presence of IgG antibodies to a particular pathogen (infectious agent such as a virus or bacteria) usually implies a degree of immunity to further infection from the same agent. In the case of Covid-19 however, it is not known yet to what extent immunity is conferred, and if so for how long. What we can say is that having IgG antibodies to other viruses within the Coronavirus group is associated with at least short term immunity to re-infection.
What does a negative Covid Antibody result mean?
A Negative IgG result informs us, with a degree of confidence, that it is highly unlikely that the patient has been infected by this virus up until at least a week before the sample was taken. It is possible however that the patient could have been infected and not mounted a significant immune response – either because the infection was mild and did not lead to the production of a detectable amount of antibody or because the levels have not yet risen to a detectable level. This latter explanation is more likely if the time from onset of the illness to the time of taking the sample was less than 21 days. Repeat testing in 2 week’s time or longer following a negative result may lead to a positive result if this scenario is a possibility.
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Coronavirus Home Test Kit by Direct PCR - £159
These are sent to you in post using Royal Mail’s Guaranteed Next Day by 1pm delivery and will be dispatched same day if ordered by 1pm. Once you have your kit, you just need to easily collect a swab sample using the instructions provided and then post back using the return envelope provided to the lab, but please do remember that the laboratory cannot start testing your sample until they receive it.
