admin COVID-19

Covid antigen / flu test combined.

The laboratory at Atlantic Clinic has acquired a new clever piece of kit that will test for Covid antigen and influenza antigen on the same sample, and at the same price as the original Covid antigen test (45 euros, 45 euros on weekend/out of hours).
The results are ready as quickly as 15 minutes (sometimes a little longer when there is a heavy workload).
This is especially useful over the winter months of the flu season when it may be difficult to distinguish between the 2 types of infection.

Book a test

[end-div]

admin COVID-19

Same-day PCR test

Atlantic Clinic has just acquired the latest PCR equipment which can give a same day result.

 

Our prices for Covid 19 tests have also fallen:

-Same-day PCR: 85 €

–Antigen test (nose swab) 15 mins: 45€

–Antigen test on weekends/ out of hours (nose swab) 15 mins: 45€

–ELISA antibody test (blood sample) same day: 95€

 

Book a test

[end-div]

 

To find which test is best for you click here.

To book your appointment, please call 952 81 7425

[end-div]

admin COVID-19

New Antigen test for Covid-19

This test has just become available in Spain and has several advantages

  1. Rapid: It is as fast as the rapid antibody test, and faster than the PCR test. The results are ready from about 20 minutes of taking the sample.
  2. Early detection: it can detect Covid-19 as early as 2 day after contact with an infected person, or as soon as symptoms appear until 5 days after symptoms start.
  3. Cheaper than the PCR test. It costs 50 (55€ on weekends/out of hours) euros.
  4. Accurate: Sensitivity is 80-94% and Specificity is >97%  (this satisfies the requirements for intenational travel certification).
  5. It is taken by a nose or throat swab.

Disadvantages

  1. The result becomes negative as the infection clears (after 5 days from the start of symptoms). This may be useful to indicate that a patient is no longer infectious, but it cannot indicate a previous infection (antibody tests are better for this). 

So, which test to have?

      1. To detect a previous infection the ELISA antibody test is the most accurate. A cheaper, faster, but less reliable alternative is the rapid antibody test.
      2. When a PCR test is required for travel or employment, or when cost and rapidity is not an issue the PCR is recommended. At present this is the most accurate method for diagnosing a current active infection
      3. When cost and speed are important the Antigen test is recommended. For example a child may be sent home from school, or an employee sent home from work with possible Covid-19 symptoms, or you have had contact with somebody who tested positive. This test can give a positive or negative result within minutes, allowing that person to either isolate or get back to school/work quickly.

Book a test

[end-div]

admin COVID-19

How to interpret your Covid 19 antibody results

For Rapid antibody tests and ELISA tests the interpretation is the same.

The ELISA test is considered more reliable and also gives a quantitative figure of the amount of antibody (as opposed to a simple positive/negative result with the Rapid test).

There are 4 possible results:

  1. IgM negative, IgG negative.
    1. There is no evidence of current infection or previous infection.
    2. Remember that it takes a minimum of 4 days from the start of symptoms, or 7 days from exposure to the virus before the antibodies show up positive. This means that the antibody test cannot detect an infection in the initial stages.
    3. If there is a suspicion of recent infection in spite of this result a PCR or Antigen test can be done, or repeat the antibody test after a few days.
  1. IgM positive, IgG negative:
    1. This suggests infection in the early stages of the disease.
    2. The patient is infectious
    3. If the result does not coincide with the clinical picture (for example, if there are no symptoms) it could be a false positive. The result can be confirmed with a PCR test or, if the test was a Rapid antibody test, by doing an ELISA test, which is more reliable and uses a different method.
  1. IgM positive, IgG positive:
    1. This suggests infection in the intermediate stage of the disease.
    2. The patient is considered no longer infectious.
  1. IgM negative, IgG positive
    1. There is recovery from the disease and the patient is not infectious
    2. There may be some immunity to Covid-19, although it is not known yet to what extent and how long that immunity may last. Precautions should still be taken.

Book a test

[end-div]

admin COVID-19

Covid-19 testing: which, when and why?

There are now 4 types of Covid-19 tests available at Atlantic Clinic: 

  1. PCR  ultra-fast
  2. Antigen test
  3. Rapid antibody tests for IgM and IgG
  4. ELISA antibody tests for IgM and IgG 

Confused?  Here’s what they mean:

 

1. PCR (polymerase chain reaction): 85€ 

This detects the presence of genetic material from the coronavirus.

How?  Swabs (like a long cotton bud) collect mucous from the back of the throat and nose.

Time for result: from 4 hours

When? The test shows positive early in the disease (within a day or so after symptoms begin).

Why? 

  1. To diagnose the illness in the early stages of the infection, or;
  2. For travel when a negative result is a requirement.

Limitations: 

a. After recovery the PCR may no longer be detectable so it is not so useful to diagnose a previous infection.

b. The PCR may persist for some time even after recovery because of residual genetic material leading to confusion over whether a patient is still contagious.

c. The test may be falsely negative if the sample is not taken correctly, or if the virus is not present in that part of the body (it may be only in the lungs, for example).

Book a test

 

2. Antigen test: 45€

45€ on weekends/out of hours

This detects the presence of the virus in an active infection.

How? A swab collects mucous from the back of the nose.

Time: about 20 minutes.

When? The test shows positive as soon as symptoms start or at least 2 days after contact until 5 days after the symptoms start.

Why?

  1. To diagnose the illness in the early stages of the infection or;
  2. For travel when a negative Antigen test is required

Limitations

The result becomes negative as the infection clears (after about 5 days from the start of symptoms). This may be useful to indicate that a patient is no longer infectious, but it cannot indicate a previous infection (antibody tests are better for this).

Book a test

 

 

 

 3. Rapid antibody tests: 60€ 

This detects the presence of antibodies (the body’s defense against the virus) which are produced in response to the infection.

How? The sample is either a drop of blood from a finger prick or a blood sample taken from the vein. 

Time for the result: At Atlantic Clinic the result is ready the same day.

When? Antibodies take at least 7 days from infection or 4 days from the start of symptoms to show up. The IgM antibodies are seen first as the disease progresses. After recovery, the IgM disappears and IgG persists.

Why? 

  1. It is the quickest and cheapest test.
  2. It is most useful for those who have had no symptoms, or symptoms some time ago, (a minimum of 4 days) and would like to know if:
  •  You have had the disease in the past and have recovered, or;
  • You are currently infected and what stage of infectivity or recovery you are in.

Limitations

Not useful for diagnosis in the early stages of the disease (PCR is better). The test only gives a positive/negative result. Generally the ELISA test is preferred (see below).

Book a test

 

 

 

3. ELISA antibody test (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) 95€.

This also detects antibodies but uses more sophisticated techniques and needs skilled technicians. It is more accurate than the rapid test.

How?  A blood sample is taken from the vein. 

Time for result: At Atlantic Clinic the result are ready the same day.

When? As with the rapid test, the antibodies take at least 7 days from infection or 4 days from the start of symptoms to show up. 

Why? It is a more reliable test that the rapid antibody test. It gives a figure showing the amount of IgM and IgG (rather than a simple positive/negative result) which can indicate the degree of immunity. It can used to confirm a rapid antibody test result that is in doubt.

Limitations

  1. It is more expensive than the rapid antibody test and takes longer to get the results.
  2. Not useful for diagnosis in the early stages of the disease (PCR is better).

Book a test

 

 

How accurate are they?

The manufacturers quoted accuracy rates for the methods used at Atlantic Clinic are:

PCR:

Specificity and sensitivity 99.999%

Antigen test:

Specificity 100%, sensitivity: 85%, (this satisfies the requirements for international travel certification)

Rapid antibody test:

– IgM specificity 96% and sensitivity 85%

– IgG specificity 98% and sensitivity 93%

ELISA: 

– IgM specificity 97.5% and Sensitivity 82%

– IgG specificity 97.3% and sensitivity 91.2%

[end-div]

admin COVID-19

How accurate is the Covid-19 rapid antibody test?

The antibody testing at Atlantic Clinic is currently using the Acro Biotech kit.

The American supplier quotes an accuracy rate for the 2 types of antibodies: 

IgM: 92.9% IgG: 98.6%*

However, there are some uncertainties at the moment:

  1. These figures are based on current information. New data is coming in all the time and may refine them.
  1. The usefulness of the test depends to a certain extent on the proportion of people within a given population that has the virus, which is at present unknown. No one knows how many people may have been infected but show no symptoms.
  1. Antibodies take at least 7 days after infection (or after 4 days of symptoms) to show up on the test, so it is not useful in the very early stages of an infection. In these circumstances, where active Covid-19 is suspected, the PCR test is better, which in Spain is normally done in hospitals.

Antibody testing is used to identify those who have been infected for at least 7 days, or have recovered from a previous illness (either with symptoms, or a “silent infection” which went unnoticed). 

*For the technically minded, accuracy is a function of:

Relative specificity IgM 96%

Relative sensitivity IgM 85%

Relative specificity IgG 98%

Relative sensitivity IgG 100%

 

 

Dr. Anthony Crichton-Smith- GP