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Time to start getting out a little more? Let’s do it carefully and legally, even if you are vaccinated. Perhaps you want to visit someone special who has health concerns, you have decided to go on holiday/visit family outside the UK (Travel rules for entering England), or you just want to be sure you don’t have an asymptomatic Covid-19 infection, our PCR can provide you with an accurate and quick result. The Saliva testing kit can either be shipped directly to your door or you can come to our on-site testing lab in Southampton. Please enquire at lab@fgih.co.uk or give us a call at (+44)02380118981.

Covid-19 qPCR test Test to Release, Fit to Fly & General Testing

£89.00

COVID-19 PCR test

  • Collection kit delivered to your home
  • Place your sample in the provided return packaging which has pre-paid postage and post in a Royal Mail Priority post box before midday, Monday to Friday
  • Results available in 2 working days*
  • Self-collection saliva – no blood or swabbing required**

We do NOT offer the Day 2 and Day 8 testing (Arrival in the UK) which you will need for your passenger locator form.

*Sample collection kits and returned samples are delivered by Royal Mail and any handling delays are outside of our control. Kits do not expire so order well in advance of when you need to use it. Then only post it back as soon as you have used it and need the report.

Please contact FGIH if you haven’t received your result within 3 working days of returning your testing kit.

**Please see terms of use for additional information

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Description

You are ordering a Coronavirus PCR Testing Home Sample Collection Kit and the PCR analysis of this sample.  We are listed on the governmental website as a private provider of Covid-19 testing. Our Covid-19 PCR home test is used for General, Fit to Fly and Test to Release testing. You simply spit in the collection tube and send the tube to our lab in the return packaging provided. You can also come to our laboratory at the Southampton Science Park to do an on-site testing. Please contact us if you want to do so. We do NOT offer the Day 2 and Day 8 testing (Arrival in the UK) which you will need for your passenger locator form.

After the sample arrives at the laboratory we perform a RNA-extraction. As well as RNA from you the RNA of bacteria and viruses in your sample is extracted. We then take the RNA mixture and specifically amplify only two parts of RNA that are highly specific to Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2), along with a gene present in your RNA to confirm there is indeed sample in the tube. While we are amplifying these RNA pieces an instrument is monitoring this process. It’s like counting the number of pieces of this RNA in your sample. If you don’t have the coronavirus in your saliva the machine cannot count it and therefore your result is negative. We make sure that your sample was extracted correctly by adding controls to the PCR. We must ensure that everything worked perfectly and we can provide you an accurate, correct result. Our method is validated.

What is the difference between General, Fit To Fly, Day 2/Day 8, and Test to Release PCR testing?

Essentially nothing. The test is exactly the same, they just have slightly different reporting requirements.

  • General testing will provide you with a report with the results of the test.
  • Fit to Fly tests come with a Travel Certificate if you test negative which means you are able to leave the country and must show the certificate at departure.
  • Before you book the test, please check which rules applies for the country you will travel to. You can find this information here:
  • Day 2/Day 8 testing – A legal requirement upon your return to England from abroad from a country on the Amber/Red list. These tests must be purchased before you leave England and proof of purchase with associated booking reference numbers shown at departure. You will then take the test on day 2 after arrival back in England from wherever you are self-isolating. You will take the day 8 test 8 days after your return. Even if your day 2 was negative, you must remain in self-isolation and continue to take the day 8 test. If this test is negative you may leave self-isolation on day 10.
  • Test to Release – a voluntary test done on day 5 after your arrival back into England to see if you can end your self-isolation period earlier. The day 2 and day 8 tests are mandatory. This test is not and means you are able to end the self-isolation period after you receive a negative report. You must keep this report and you must still take the day 8 test in order to remain out of isolation.

FAQ

Our test is highly accurate and uses a technique called RT-PCR, which works by detecting the viral RNA. The test will determine if someone is positive for Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2). It can detect the presence of the virus even before symptoms begin to show. Some people never get symptoms. They may still be infectious to a vulnerable friend or family member.

No, this is not the case. The common cold and flu can give similar symptoms to coronavirus infection. However, the PCR test is extremely specific. The test detects the genetic material (the RNA) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus exclusively. The test is not affected by any other virus in the sample.

For your convenience we’ll send the saliva collection kit directly to your home or location of choice. We provide the collection instructions in the kit, and once you’ve collected the sample, simply return it in the prepaid packaging to the lab for analysis. You can expect to be notified of the results in 2 days from receipt in the lab. 

We treat coronavirus testing as priority, so results are issued within 2 days of receiving the sample in the laboratory.

FGIH will send you an email when the results are ready. Be sure to provide the most relevant email address for you to receive your results.

Yes, the PCR tests used to detect Covid-19 are fully validated in the laboratory. FGIH scientists run the tests and the results are analysed and verified by our clinical virologists. 

If you want to read more about accuracy of testing you can read our blog about it.

This PCR test will tell you if you are currently infected with Covid-19. It will not tell if you have been infected in the past or whether you are currently immune. This is because the virus is eliminated from the body once you recover, so these tests cannot detect if you’ve previously been infected. If you need more information read our blog about Covid-19 testing.

The PCR technique is extremely sensitive, however, it is not possible to guarantee that any test kit is 100% accurate. While unlikely, there is a possibility that the test produces a false positive or negative even when used correctly.

There are FOUR possible testing outcomes;

Positive – A positive result indicates that you are infected with Covid-19, based
on the test detecting RNA from SARS-CoV-2 in your saliva sample. Please consider yourself to be contagious. You must self-isolate and follow current recommended guidelines. Only contact your Dr if you are unable to manage your symptoms, should they develop.

Negative – A negative test result indicates that SARS-CoV-2 RNA was not detected by the PCR test in your specimen, above the threshold of detection. Note that a negative result does not rule out current or future infection by Covid-19. It is imperative to consider any recent exposure, symptoms or additional diagnostic test results (e.g., for other respiratory illnesses). Furthermore, a negative Covid-19 test should not be used as the sole basis for treatment management decisions and the full clinical history should be considered.

Inconclusive – If you receive an inconclusive result, it means the test results did not meet the diagnostic requirements to be reported as positive or negative for Covid-19. A repeat test is recommended.

Failed – A failed test report is released after repeating the RNA extraction and PCR twice with no internal control present in the PCR. This is usually due to sampling issues. It may be eating or drinking less than 30 minutes before providing the saliva sample, or that no saliva is present in the tube. Please ensure all sampling instructions are followed carefully as eating or drinking just before taking the test may have affected the sample. Incorrect sampling is the most common cause of a failed result.

Government guidelines are changing regularly. Please go to the governmental website for more information.