CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) - LATEST UPDATE

Your guide to COVID-19 testing

Tests for the presence of virus in your body. You may be asked to do this test to confirm if you currently have COVID-19
This test works best between 2 days before and 7 days after your symptom
Test can be carried out using: Nose swaps & Throat swabs
Positive: Confirms you currently have the virus and must self-isolate or seek medical assistance if unwell - this does not tell you how ill you might become or when you got the virus.
Negative: Test is only 75% accurate - if you are experiencing symptoms you may be asked to be re-tested 2-3 days later and continue to be isolated - if it has been more than 10 days since your symptoms started, you might be asked to also have an antibody test.

Test if you have been previously infected with the virus and have had an immune response.
This test works best at least 14 days following your first symptoms.
Test can be carried out using: A blood sample
Positive: You have previously had the virus and had an immune response - this does not tell you if you are protected from becoming ill again if exposed to COVID-19, or how long protection may last for
Negative: It is likely you have not had COVID-19. However, the test is only around 80% accurate in mild disease (but higher in severe disease), so there is a 20% chance that you have have had COVID-19, but the test has not detected an antibody response.