Covid-19 Testing

If you have the typical symptoms, please self isolate and follow government advice – do not come in for a test if you have clear symptoms of COVID-19 as you will put other people at risk by travelling to the clinic.

If you are very sick, get medical attention immediately

  • Not everyone needs to be tested for COVID-19
  • Most people have mild illness and are able to recover at home without medical care. They may not need to be tested
  • There is no treatment specifically approved for people who have COVID-19
  • If you have symptoms of COVID-19, please follow the government advice on isolation. Do not come to the clinic for a test.

Which COVID-19 test do I need?

Currently there are 3 types of test: PCR Test, Antigen Rapid Test and Antibody Rapid Test

The PCR test (sometimes called Molecular test, or RT-PCR Test or SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Test) shows if the virus is currently present in your body. This is the type of test required by most travel companies and airlines before you travel. Please check with your airline about how long before your travel you must have done the test. Your test samples will be sent to a validated, UKAS Certified laboratory, and the results take up to 72 hours from acceptance at the lab. The cost of this test is £150 which includes the certificate, you will receive an email with your test result certification. If needed, a 24-hour test is available, subject to slot allocation by the lab, costing £300.

Antigen Rapid Test: COVID-19 rapid test identifies COVID-19 present in a swab sample and gives a qualitative yes/no result within 15 minutes. A swab is used to sample from both nose and throat (nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal sample) and introduced into the test cassette by suspension in a buffer solution. This test is currently not accepted by the airlines for travel purposes (this may change in the future) – but it is the ideal test for either going back to work, or if you have been in contact with a COVID-19 suspected patient and wish to know if you are a carrier. The cost of this test is £105.

SD BIOSENSORS – Some border agencies (possibly the Euro Tunnel) – now accept the SD Biosensors (Roche) Antigen test as a fit for travel test. We do have a limited supply of these tests, please specify that you require this type at the time of your booking.

Antibody Test lets you know if you have been previously exposed to Covid-19. Antibodies don’t show in the blood until 3-5 days after exposure but then may stay in the system for many months. This test would be a good test to take if you are planning to go back to work or visit an ‘At Risk’ relative. For this test, we need only a finger-prick blood sample, much like a blood glucose test. The cost of this test is £65, and the results are available in 15 minutes.

In Brief:

I need to travel and need a ‘Fit to fly’ certificate: The PCR Test (£150 or £300 for 24H result)

I need to know if ‘right now’ I have the virus: The Antigen Test (£105)

I need to know if I ‘had the virus’ sometime in the past (passed 3 months): The Antibody Test (£65)

Special Offers:

NHS Staff: We are proud to offer a reduced cost service to NHS staff. Please just show your NHS ID at the test time to receive £30 OFF either of the above 3 tests.

Travel Package: PCR Test on the way out and Antigen test with ‘Test & Release’ certificate 5 days after your return and save £55. Total package is £200.

Who should have a test?

  • Companies who wish to start with key worker – have your key workers tested before opening up
  • People who have been in exposure environment and want to know they are not carriers
  • Frontline workers who want to make sure they are not contaminated
  • Frontline workers who are in touch with the general public
  • Food suppliers – both workers and people who provide delivery food and want to make sure they are not contaminating the public: chefs, supply drivers and other people who must deal with the general public
  • Anyone else who feels they may be putting other people at risk
  • Some countries may be asking for a test result before allowing entry

We have worked hard to source an approved supplier of this particular tests with high accuracy. We have secured the services of a specialist Laboratory who are UKAS certified and registered on the “Government Approved List” laboratory for the PCR test.

Get Test Results

If you’ve taken a test at the La Perla COVID-19 Testing Site and included an email address when you scheduled your appointment, you will receive an email with your test result certificate.

Negative Test Instructions

If you tested negative for COVID-19, the recommendation is to stay home and practice social distancing until 72 hours after your fever has ended without the use of fever reducing medications and other symptoms improve. After this time, you may resume regular activities. Make sure to follow state mandates: wear a mask, social distance; continue to wash your hands and have good cough etiquette.

If you test negative for COVID-19 but still have symptoms, it is likely you may have another respiratory virus. You should continue to self-isolate yourself from others, practice good hand hygiene and clean and disinfect surfaces in the home. If your symptoms worsen or don’t get better after several days, you should call your health care provider.

You should not return to work or school until 72 hours after your fever has ended without the use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms have improved. (Make sure to follow state mandates: wear a mask, social distance; continue to wash your hands and have good cough etiquette.)

As long as the virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading in your community, continue to practice social distancing, wash hands often and avoid touching your face, and clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily in household common areas (e.g. tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets, sinks, phones).

Positive Test: Instructions

If you tested positive, you must stay at home and self-isolate. This means stay in a different bedroom from others in your home, and if possible, use a separate bathroom. You must self-isolate for at least 3 full days (or 72 hours) have passed since you had a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications AND other symptoms are greatly improved AND at least 7 days have passed since symptoms first started.

If you live with other people and they were not tested, they should keep their distance from you. This includes not eating meals together and not sitting around the house together. Practice social distancing as much as is possible (stay at least 6 feet from each other).

If they are symptomatic (sick; have COVID-19 symptoms), they should also self-isolate for 3 full days (or 72 hours) until they are fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medications AND other symptoms are greatly improved AND at least 7 days have passed since symptoms first started. If the symptoms are mild, they should recover at home. If the symptoms worsen and a medical evaluation is needed, call health care provider.

If they are asymptomatic (not sick; have no COVID-19 symptoms), they should self-quarantine for 14 days AFTER any sick person in the household’s self-isolation period ends. If the asymptomatic person develops symptoms, they should follow the self-isolation instructions above. Symptoms may take 2-14 days to appear. It is important to monitor their health long enough to ensure they do not develop symptoms.

Mild symptoms are when you feel unwell but can stay home and manage at home. Most people with mild symptoms can recover from home. See above for how long you should stay home/self-isolate.

Moderate symptoms are those where you may need a medical evaluation from your health care provider. If your symptoms worsen over time and do not get better, especially if you have trouble breathing, call your health care provider to determine next steps.

Those who have been closest to you for a prolonged period of time are going to be at highest risk. Household members and others with whom you spent a prolonged period of time (more than 10 minutes) within 6 feet of you, or shared a meal, would be at increased risk and should be advised to self-quarantine at home for 14 days AFTER your, or any sick household members self-isolation period ends. If the asymptomatic person develops symptoms, they should follow the self-isolation instructions above.

People who you did not spend a prolonged period of time (less than 10 minutes) within 6 feet are at lower risk. This would include people that you may have been in an indoor space for a prolonged period of time. They should monitor their health; no restrictions about where they go. They should wash hands often and practice social distancing. If possible, you should notify individuals above regarding your illness. Work or school supervisors may be informed to help with this process.

People who you may have casually come into contact with (e.g., passed by in the hall, briefly spent time within a room, shared a short elevator ride), are not considered to be at risk and do not need to be contacted.

What is the cost and what happens if the test is positive?

Please note that we are not able to offer counselling if you test positive for COVID-19. The whole purpose of this service to provide alternative, reliable test results for people who cannot be tested by the government but do feel that they need testing. The cost of the Antibody test is £65. Please allow 45 minutes for the totality of your appointment. Please arrive on time for your appointment. The cost of the PCR test (72 hours for the result) is £150

Please wait OUTSIDE the clinic until the operator unlocks the door and takes you to the test tent, located at the back of the clinic. There will be forms that require filling. We do not test anyone younger than 18 years of age. We feel that exposing anyone older than 70 years of age to the potential risk of not staying home is not in his or her benefit.

Schedule Your Appointment

Contact Us

info@laperlaclinic.co.uk

01628 488499