COVID-19 PRIVATE TEST

Frequently Asked Questions

When receiving your test, you will be given instructions on how to take it and also how to register it online in advance of sending it back to the lab. Each test is given its own unique barcode.

We are aware of some registration issues when entering your test barcode. If you experience this issue when registering your kit, please replace the start of your code “R4L” with “RFL” which will solve the issue and still track your test correctly.

The lab are aware of this issue and aim to fix it soon.

Our tests are dispatched midday on each working day. Unless alternative options are selected at checkout, our standard delivery is via Royal Mail Signed For® 1st Class service which usually arrives the next working day (but can take longer during busy periods).

When we send you a test we always include a pre-paid envelope for you to send the sample back to the lab on a 24 hour tracked service. Whilst the Royal mail is very reliable, if you need to be absolutely certain that the sample will get to the lab within 24 hours, we would recommend that you use a reliable private courier service or a same day/ next day delivery service.

Please note that whilst most orders are dispatched within 24hrs, orders placed at the weekend will take longer.

Note: Tests ordered around the holiday season are likely to be delayed due to Royal Mail surges. Please be sure to plan to allow as much flexibility as you can.

These are two very different tests with a number of differences between them, however the most important difference is:

The antigen PCR test will provide you with a diagnosis that will tell you if you have the virus now.

The antibody test will tell you if you have had the virus. The antibody tests can give you an indication of whether you may still have the virus in your system by analysing the antibodies present in your blood. However, this is not a diagnosis. Only an antigen test will provide you with a diagnosis.

We are huge supporters of the NHS and absolutely none of our tests interfere with NHS capacity or supply.

CE marking is a certification mark that indicates conformity with health, safety, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area. The CE marking is also found on products sold outside the EEA that have been manufactured to EEA standards

About Our Antibody Tests

An antibody test is used to identify whether you have previously been in contact with the virus or not. It’s important to note that this test will not provide you with a diagnosis.

What this test will do, is to provide you with one of three different indications, and they do this by identifying 2 types of antibodies – IgG and IgM.  

This will show you one of the following:

  1. The test detects the presence of IgM antibodies. This indicates that you may currently have the virus.
  2. The test detects the presence of IgG antibodies. This indicates that you may have previously been infected with the virus but have recovered and are no longer infectious.
  3. The test will detect the presence of both IgG and IgM antibodies. This indicates that you may still have the virus and could still be infectious. However, the additional presence of the IgG antibodies indicates that your body is fighting the virus off.

Antibody tests are being used everywhere. Many businesses have been using them to help get staff back to work. Many people have been tested for peace of mind and to help get their life back on track instead of sitting in isolation.

Globally, antibody testing has been used to great effect as part of government sanctioned mass testing programmes. While it is true that the UK Government has not yet endorsed antibody testing for use in the NHS, we believe it’s only a matter of time before they do and a number of local authorities have started using antibody tests for their employees. Antibody tests are invaluable tool for personal and commercial use.

This test will identify two different antibodies, IgG and IgM. These antibodies only present themselves when someone has been exposed to coronavirus.

An IgM antibody indicates that you have been exposed to the virus in the last 7-28 days and that you may still be infectious. Current research indicates that IgM antibodies tend to stay in the system for around 28 days.

An IgG antibody indicates that you have been exposed to the virus in the last 7-28 days but that your body is fighting the virus off. If your antibody test just shows you an IgG antibody then this would indicate that you are no longer infectious. Current research indicates that IgG antibodies can remain in your system for up to 40 days.

Please note that you can get a result showing both antibodies. The test can detect the presence of both IgG and IgM antibodies. This indicates that the donor still has the virus and could still be infectious. The presence of the IgG antibodies does also indicate that the body is fighting the virus, and that they could be on the road to recovery.

When this happens the best rule to follow is, if your test shows up IgM antibodies you should isolate and follow government advice.

Our antibody tests have an accuracy of 98.7% which makes them more accurate than a home HIV or STD test. It also means that our antibody tests are about as accurate as a diabetes or pregnancy test!

This test will give you a result within 15 minutes with no need to send anything back to a lab!

Antibody tests are easy to use and in most countries anyone can be trained in how to use them but are not currently approved for self-testing by MHRA at this point in time.  There are a number of trials being undertaken to look at self-testing and we expect this situation to  change in the near future.

They need to be administered by someone over 18 but can be used on anyone.

Whilst the test procedure is very simple, this test has only been approved for professional use right now which means testers must be professionally trained. We are currently seeking clarification on their definition of ‘professional’ in this context.

If you would rather have assistance to understand your test results you can book an on-line consultation.

No. Unfortunately there is no sure-fire way of telling if someone is “immune” to Covid19. However, the current research would indicate that an antibody test can identify if you have IgG antibodies in your system, which if present, indicates that you will have higher resistance to the virus.

No. GP’s will not provide you with any Covid19 antibody tests.

No. Antibody tests are not currently available from the NHS, but are widely used in industry and starting to be used in other parts of the public and charity sectors.

There has been a lot of controversy and mis-information about antibody testing in the UK. However we and our clinical partners have looked at a great deal of international research and we are confident that antibody testing is essential to beating the pandemic. Many countries such as Germany, South Korea and New Zealand have used antibody testing alongside antigen tests to great effect.

Our antibody tests have an accuracy of 98.7% which makes them more accurate than a home HIV or STD tests. It also means that our antibody tests are about as accurate as a diabetes or pregnancy test!

Simply store the kit in a dry, room temperature environment.

The short answer to this question is no. Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that you will have any sort of “immunity” to the virus once you have been exposed to it, though current research would indicate that you probably have developed immunity. There is currently a lot of research being conducted to investigate this, but at this time we simply don’t know for sure.

What we do know, is that the presence of IgG antibodies in your system indicates that you will have a higher resistance to the virus.

About Our Antigen Tests

This test can diagnose whether you have the COVID-19 virus, providing peace of mind. To do this the test must be returned to the Lab for analysis before you receive your results. It should be stressed that these tests are not the same ones used in the NHS, however they do use the same PCR technology to provide you with quick and accurate results. 

This is a simple oral and nasal swab test that is so easy to use, it can be self-administered. Once you have used your test you will need to post it back to the Lab. Upon receipt at the Lab you will receive your results within 24 hours.

PCR antigen tests are widely used by the NHS and in industry.  They are highly accurate and are a primary way of diagnosing Covid19.  We do stress that the tests we sell are not the same as the ones used within the NHS, so we are not impacting on NHS capacity or ability to respond to the virus. However, our tests use exactly the same Polymerase Chain Reaction technology (PCR) to provide you with a fast and accurate diagnosis. 

This test will identify if you are currently infected with Covid19, and will be able provide you with a diagnosis regardless of whether you are symptomatic or asymptomatic.

If you follow the correct collection procedures, antigen tests are 100% accurate. Once you have collected your sample, you must then send it back to the Lab for analysis and verification. Once that is done, the lab can issue your results.

The short answer is anybody! These tests are very easy to use and no prior clinical training is required. Our tests come with easy to follow instructions, but if you do get stuck please take a look at the video above.

Yes of course you can. Although if it’s just for yourself we would recommend that you purchase some antibody tests as they will help you track whether you are still infectious or not.   

As soon as the Lab receives your sample, they will normally issue your results within 24 hours.

Please be aware that timeframes may shift during strained periods of public testing and demand and  as such, we can not guarantee an exact timeframe.

No. PCR antigen tests will tell you if you have the virus at this very moment. Currently there is no test on the market that will tell you if you are immune. However an antibody test can identify if you have IgG antibodies in your system, which if present, indicate that you will have higher resistance to the virus.

CE marking is a certification mark that indicates conformity with health, safety, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area. The CE marking is also found on products sold outside the EEA that have been manufactured to EEA standards.

Absolutely not, the tests we sell are different from those used in the NHS. At Kilter we are avid supporters of the NHS. 

No GP’s don’t supply Covid19 tests. You can request a test through the NHS, however you have to meet a specific set of criteria to be eligible for one. It should also be noted that antibody testing is not currently available on the NHS.

Simply store the kit in a dry environment at room temperature.

These are two very different tests with a number of differences between them, however the most important difference is:

The antigen PCR test will provide you with a diagnosis that will tell you if you have the virus now.

The antibody test will tell you if you have had the virus. The antibody tests can give you an indication of whether you may still have the virus in your system by analysing the antibodies present in your blood. However, this is not a diagnosis. Only an antigen test will provide you with a diagnosis.

The short answer to this question is no. Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that you will have any sort of “immunity” to the virus once you have been exposed to it, though current research would indicate that you probably have developed immunity. There is currently a lot of research being conducted to investigate this, but at this time we simply don’t know for sure.

What we do know, is that the presence of IgG antibodies in your system indicates that you will have a higher resistance to the virus.