Groundbreaking At-Home Coronavirus Antibody Test Available In The U.K. ‘Within Days’
Topline: Thousands of at-home coronavirus antibody tests, used to detect whether someone has had and is potentially resistant to the virus, will be made available in the U.K. within days, a public health director has said, following calls for more frontline workers to be tested.
- The game-changing finger prick tests detect the presence of two antibodies that appear over the course of the disease in the body, with results available in 15 minutes. The tests will also be available for home delivery via Amazon, or at pharmacies such as Boots.
- The antibody test differs from the test used to diagnose coronavirus, and instead detects whether an individual has had the virus, built up antibodies in their system and cleared it.
It is believed that such tests can help frontline staff to detect whether they have been infected faster, have built up resistance and are either safe to return to work, or should self-isolate. It can also help to detect how widespread the disease may be.