Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test

MEDsan’s Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test measures the existence of COVID-19 IgM and IgG antibodies in the blood. Employers all over the UK and Europe use it to keep their workplace safe for employees and customers. The test only requires one drop of blood, taken by a finger-prick and has an accuracy of 98.3 %. The test can identify natural antibodies and those created by a vaccine.

Can the Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test if my vaccine is working?

The short answer is, yes. A COVID-19 vaccination creates antibodies to build a person’s immunity to the virus. Once you have received your first dose of any COVID-19 vaccine, your immune system recognises the virus and begins to build a defence mechanism through antibodies. These initial antibodies can be detected by MEDsan’s Rapid COVID-19 test and show a positive result. However, there may be a few reasons why the test will not detect any antibodies even after you’ve had your first vaccine dose.

• You may receive a negative result if you have taken the test too soon after your vaccine. Your immune system needs some time to recognise the virus and build a defence. Because of this, the number of detectable antibodies in your system may be too few for the test to pick up.
• You may receive a negative result if you have taken the test too long after your first vaccine dose. The UK government’s vaccine roll-out has delayed the second dose of any UK vaccine by three months. During this time, the quantity of detectable antibodies in your system may have faded.
• You may receive a negative result if you take medication or have a medical condition that supresses your immune system. Certain conditions and medications may interfere with the body’s ability to produce antibodies or the rate at which they are produced. This may result in the Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test not detecting any antibodies after your first vaccine dose.

After a second dose of any COVID-19 vaccine, the quantity of detectable antibodies in your system usually increases significantly. At this point, the Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test is much more likely to pick up antibodies created by the vaccine and show a positive test.

List of contents

• 1 x Test device (in a foil pouch including desiccant)
• 1 x Buffer solution
• 1 x Safety lancet
• 1 x Pipette
• 1 x Alcohol wrap pad
• 1 x Package insert

What does the Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test find out?

The MEDsan Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test can identify whether a person has been infected by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). It does this through the detection of antibodies in the blood. Antibodies are produced by the immune system to fight against infection. The two antibody classes targeted by the test are immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG). IgM is what the body produces initially as the first line of defence against COVID-19; IgG antibodies follow later to fight as the second wave.

As a result of this two-wave defence mechanism, the antibody classes can be detected after different periods of time. IgM antibodies may only be present towards the beginning of an infection, as they usually become undetectable after a matter of weeks or months. In contrast, IgG antibodies can be evident in the blood for a significantly longer period. A presence of IgM antibodies in the blood is likely to suggest a more recent infection, whereas a presence of only IgG antibodies may point towards an older initial infection.

Benefits of a Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test

The major benefits of using a MEDsan Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test are the speed, accuracy, convenience and affordability of the test. Our test is able to produce a result in less than 15 minutes with an accuracy of 98.3%. This saves vast amounts of time in comparison to a clinical test which may take days for a result.

The test can also be completed at home without the need for a healthcare professional to be present. Because the test detects antibodies in the blood, it can identify whether a person has been infected with COVID-19 even if they showed minor or no symptoms at the point of infection.

A MEDsan Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test is also very affordable for businesses looking to make both small-scale and large-scale purchases.

Our Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test is approved, certified and validated

The MEDsan Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test has been approved and validated by the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut. The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut is one of the authorities that provides information on COVID-19 tests. In order to be approved by the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, a COVID-19 test must pass a series of laboratory tests to validate its effectiveness.

In addition, the MEDsan Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test is certified with a CE mark, meaning the test meets the safety, health or environmental requirements of the EU and complies with EU legislation.

How to carry out the Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test

1. Before you begin, make sure you are well hydrated and wash your hands with warm water and soap. Running your fingers under warm water helps with good quality blood flow.
2. Dry your hands thoroughly and clean the end of one finger with the disinfectant wipe provided in the test kit.
3. Remove the cap on the safety lancet and prick the end of your finger using the small needle.
4. Wipe away the first drop of blood and prepare to collect the second.
5. Draw the blood from the tip of your finger using the pipette from the kit.
6. Add 5μl of blood (this will be marked on the pipette by a black line) into the square well in the centre of the test device.
7. Add two drops (around 60μl) of sample buffer solution into the circular well.
8. Wait between 10 and 15 minutes for the coloured lines to appear. Do not check the test after more than 15 minutes as this may lead to false results. A positive result may be visible after just two minutes.
9. A coloured line should appear next to the letter C to confirm the test has been done correctly and is working. A positive test includes a coloured line next to the letter C and a line next to either or both of the letters M and G.

How does the Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test work?

The MEDsan Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test works by examining COVID-19 IgM and IgG antibodies in the blood. To do this, the test starts by separating the solid aspects of the blood sample (this includes red and white blood cells) from the blood plasma (the liquid element of the blood, made up of water and salts). By combining the solid parts of the blood with the buffer solution, the sample is able to proceed through the membrane of the test device.

The test device contains antigens carrying gold particles that react with COVID-19 IgM and IgG antibodies if they are present in the blood sample. A reaction to either or both of the antibodies creates a coloured line that is visible on the results strip of the test device. If a reaction occurs with IgM antibodies in the blood sample, a line next to the letter M will appear on the result strip; a line next to the letter G connotes a reaction with IgG antibodies. The final line is the letter C, representing control. This signifies the test has been completed correctly and is working. If the control line and either or both of the M and G lines are present after 10 minutes, the test is showing a positive result.

View limitations and precautions