Rapid tests are small, portable tests which use chromatographic technology to determine the contagiousness of a patient in a short period of time. The tests are composed of a small cassette which contains the filter paper, a small vial filled with buffer solution which doubles as a pipette, and a cotton bud. 

They are administered via nasal or oral swab. The cotton bud is then placed in the small vial filled with buffer solution and left for around half a minute. After this time has elapsed, turn the vial upside-down and use the pipette attachment to squeeze the mixture onto the small circular opening located at the bottom of the cassette below the larger rectangular opening. Now, wait 15 minutes for the results. You will notice two letters beside the rectangular opening.

On the filter paper beside these letters, lines might or might not appear as the 15 minutes elapses. The most important of these letters is C, beside which a line must appear if the test has worked. If a line appears at C, take a look at T which, depending on your level of infection, may or may not display a line beside it after 15 minutes. If a fairly solid, distinct line appears at T, then you have tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently infectious.

If you prefer, watch this video for a walk-through of the test: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=DCh0rWX4p3Y  

Yes, if you’re trying to find out if someone is infectious. The amount of viral material in your system - what is referred to as your ‘viral load’ - must exceed a certain threshold for you to be able to spread the virus to others. In short, you can be infected without being infectious.

So, unlike other tests which attempt to locate any and all traces of viral material generated by COVID-19, rapid tests only deliver a positive result if it detects the amounts in the patient which would make them contagious. For more information, take a look at our blog [https://blog.labsoln.co.uk/rapid-testing-and-covid-19-why-are-we-being-so-sensitive] on the topic.  

Anyone, including the patient themselves.

The test is extremely easy to perform, with very little margin for error. Each test comes with thorough, accessible instructions, too.  

The NHS uses a type of test known as a PCR test, or polymerase chain reaction test, which uses a technique that replicates the cells of the sample to create a larger picture of the patient’s infection status. This allows PCR testing to provide a more comprehensive set of results. The complicated nature of the process involved in PCR testing is a large part of the reason for the 48-hour waiting time.

While PCR tests can detect incredibly small amounts of viral material in the patient, rapid tests have been proven to deliver positive results if the patient is currently infectious. In other words, whilst PCR testing can tell you more, rapid testing lets you know about the most necessary information much faster.

We realise that this is a new concept and is quite complex (scientific).
Therefore, we have created an easy-to-use ‘Resource Centre’ to help you get the detail you need via blogs, pdf’s and webpages on the site.

Please call or email our team if you have a specific request not covered below. We will be happy to help.