Coronavirus (Covid 19) Tests
We offer all forms of testing for Coronavirus Covid-19. Scroll down to find details about the different tests available.
If you have any questions at all about the testing, what type is best for you, implications of testing or any other costs, please do get in touch via the contact page for a quick response.
If you would like to discuss testing on a larger scale, for households or businesses etc, or if you would like to discuss home visits for testing, please click here to contact us directly.
For more information on Covid-19 please read through my blog article here which is regularly updated.
Throat swab PCR Fit to Fly tests — to see if you have the virus currently
Many countries are making this test compulsory before travel (often needing to be done within 72 hours of travel) and I am able to carry this out in clinic within a short appointment and have results and a certificate to patients via email within 24 hours.
This involves taking a swab carefully at the back of your throat and from both nostrils. Please bring your identification (passport/travel document) to your appointment so this can be confirmed in clinic.
The complete cost of this service is £265 and this can be booked online below. It is also possible for me to courier kits to those patients who have symptoms and cannot attend clinic - please contact us for details
Antibody blood testing, results often same-day — to see if you have been exposed to the virus
The premise here is that if antibodies to coronavirus covid-19 are detected, you have had the virus at some point and developed antibodies against it, or been effectively vaccinated.
If positive, you will have some degree of immunity. What we really don't know is how long any immunity may last, and this is still the subject of ongoing research.
There is an interesting caveat that we are seeing however - there appear to be some people who have definitely had the virus (had a positive throat swab) but not generated any antibodies; this article in Science summarises things well and reveals that some people are using other aspects of their immune system to fight covid-19.
There are two types of lab-based antibody test I can offer:
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This demonstrates immunity induced by vaccination AND potential recent infection with the virus.
It gives a numerical level of antibodies as a result.
Takes around 3 weeks after vaccination/infection to show detectable levels.
One tube of blood is sent to the lab, results usually take a few hours but potentially up to 24 hours.
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These demonstrate recent natural infection, and are not proof of vaccination status.
One tube of blood is sent to the lab, results usually take a few hours but potentially up to 24 hours.
IgM (short term antibody) can be detected after 7-10 days.
IgG (long term antibody) requires at least 3 weeks after infection to be detected.
These tests return a positive or negative result, without a numerical level of antibodies.
If you have not had symptoms, they can be done at any time.
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Done in the clinic, results take 15 minutes.
These are between 97-99% sensitive to coronavirus covid-19, so there is a small possibility that a negative result is incorrect. Given this, I would suggest using this only if you have had lots of highly suggestive symptoms of Covid-19, and if the test is negative, then a confirmatory lab test (above) can be done.
Can be done 7-10 days after illness as it detects both IgM and IgG (IgM is made quickly but only lasts a few weeks, unlike IgG which takes a few weeks to produce)
Approved for use by The MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency)