Covid-19 Testing

Covid-19 has not gone away, and the strains that are currently circulating are not covered by the original vaccines. Many people are susceptible. Testing can still play an important part in protecting those around you.

Covid-19 is treatable with anti-viral medication, so if you belong to a vulnerable group and are at risk of severe disease, an early diagnosis can help you obtain rapid treatment.

A positive lateral flow test can be helpful for confirming the cause of symptoms. However, it is much less sensitive than PCR, so a negative test may give a false sense of security that all is well, which may put others at risk if you are in the early stages of infection.

For people with symptoms, we recommend doing a full respiratory PCR panel, which can test for the full range of respiratory pathogens.

Antibody testing is still available, but seldom requested at the moment, and currently of limited value.

There are many things you can do to stop the spread of coronavirus:
* Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
* Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
* Wash your hands as soon as you get back home
* Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
* Put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
* Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

Yes, our nurses are very experienced in treating children of all ages. It may not be advisable to test young infants but sometimes this is an International travel requirement. You can contact us to confirm prior to booking.