0

There has been a lot of talk in the news recently about infection numbers and COVID tests, especially regarding foreign travel, but what are the different covid-19 tests and how do they provide us with those all significant results?

The COVID-19 PCR virus test, which is sometimes called the ‘swab’ PCR test, is a test that is completed to see whether a person is currently infected with the coronavirus or not – at the time the test was taken. 

A saliva sample is used in some cases, but the most common test is where a swab is taken from your nose and throat. This swab sample is then tested to see if you have the virus.

A swab sample is taken by a swab, a plastic stick containing a small piece of soft, absorbent material on the end. 

Self-sampling for SARS COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can be done at home yourself, with either one of our COVID-19 tests for travel. Your sample will then be returned to our laboratories, where we will check the swab for genetic material from the virus.

Our home tests are gold-standard PCR tests that have been analysed by both Public Health England and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust. They found that our COVID-19 test correctly identified all positive and negative samples, with 100% specificity towards the Sars Cov-2 virus. 

If we respond to you to tell you that you have a positive test result, you will be currently infected with COVID-19 (whether you have symptoms of COVID-19 or not) and so are at risk of infecting others. Therefore, the best thing to do would be to follow the Public Health England guidelines.

If you get a negative result, then it means we have not been able to detect the virus from the swab taken, giving you peace of mind that you can end your isolation safely.  However, you should still follow national and local rules and guidelines relating to preventing the spread of the virus.

COVID-19 Flight Tests - Delivery in 1-2 working days - Accredited Labs - 01625 813572