Covid-19 (Coronavirus) testing in Preston

Preston’s coronavirus infection rate has increased slightly week-on-week as the city prepares for the beginning of the new restrictions. Private Covid-19 tests available to residents and businesses in the Preston area will give you the choice of test that is most appropriate for your needs and can be carried out at a time to suit you.

What Covid tests are available and how long does it take to get results?

With soaring demand across the Lancashire region, private COVID-19 PCR tests are being sought by individuals wanting to travel or that need a test to find out if they have the infection and are asymptomatic. This could be critical if they are responsible for caring for vulnerable loved ones and may need to self-isolate to minimise the spread of the infection.

There are essentially two types of instant, rapid testing for Covid-19, available to businesses, one which detects a current infection (antigen) and one which detects a previous infection (antibody). A PCR swab test involves a sample being sent to the laboratory for analysis whilst rapid screening kits deliver results onsite within 15 minutes.

Private Covid-19 test for Preston residents with next day results

With soaring demand for Covid-19 testing resulting in lack of appointment availability and increased turnaround times for results, people are now looking to accredited laboratories to provide a private Covid-19 test in Preston with fast turnaround of results.

It is now a pre-requisite for most British travellers venturing overseas to provide proof that they do not have the coronavirus infection. Requirements for testing for leisure purposed do not allow access to NHS testing services and so need to be managed privately.

AlphaBiolabs can provide a fit to fly test with a fit to fly certificate as part of the standard PCR test. The AlphaBiolabs home COVID-19 PCR test detects the presence of COVID-19-specific RNA within a positive sample. The testing kit is sent to you directly with full instructions on how to take the nose and throat samples. Once collected, your samples are returned to the testing laboratory in pre-paid and tracked-return packaging.

Private Covid-19 test options for employers in Preston

The consequences of an outbreak of Covid-19 can have a serious impact to a company from both a commercial aspect as well as reputational. For teams of staff working together in close proximity one of the most fundamental tools in identifying those who are carrying the infection is the provision of testing which will allow companies to screen their employees and isolate carriers of the virus, immediately.

PCR COVID-19 swab test with next day results

The PCR swab test is regarded as the gold standard in Covid-19 testing. It looks for the presence of viral RNA in the body, by examining a nose and throat swab sample. By detecting viral RNA, which will be present in the body before antibodies form or symptoms of the disease appear, the PCR swab test (antigen) is an early detector of COVID-19 infection.

The sample collection involves using a sterile viral collection swab (which looks like an extra-long cotton wool bud) to collect a sample from the nasal and throat areas. The testing kits can be dispatched so that employees can administer the test themselves or alternatively a company nurse or OH professional can perform the collection.

Samples returned to AlphaBiolabs’ world class dedicated Covid-19 laboratory facility are tested using PCR extraction methods and in the event of no Covid-19 RNA being detected, the sample will be reported as being negative.

Results for the private Covid-19 will be returned the next day from receipt of the samples, and staff with negative results can safely return to work. Any asymptomatic carriers can be immediately isolated are removed from the workplace to avoid future spread.

Covid-19 Antigen testing results onsite within 15 minutes

AlphaBiolabs has launched the first instant Covid-19 antigen test kit in the UK to help workplaces deal with the shortage of ‘back to laboratory’ PCR tests. Staff can be screened onsite and once samples have been taken from the nose and throat, the result is known within 15 minutes.

To carry out the antigen test a nose and throat specimen which is then inserted into a small tube containing a buffer liquid. Two drops of the liquid are then added to a sample well on the immunoassay device. The device will then clearly display one of two possible results – positive or negative.

The AlphaBiolabs COVID-19 Antigen (Ag) Rapid Test is one of the world’s first rapid screening tests for the identification of the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), from 14 days after initial exposure to the virus and or after the onset of symptoms.

Covid-19 Antibody testing results onsite within 15 minutes

Antibody rapid screening kits can identify an employee’s immunological response to a coronavirus from 21 days after exposure to the Covid-19 virus or 7 days onwards after the onset of symptoms.

This portable, immunoassay instant screening device is ideal for on-site use. The CE-marked, single-use test analyses a finger-prick blood sample to detect a body’s immunological response to an active/current or recent/previous exposure to COVID-19. It does this by detecting both early and late marker antibodies.

Following a rigorous review of the technical data of the current Covid-19 immunoassay devices available, our scientific team deemed our screening devices as the most accurate. Additionally, the reliability and accuracy of our Covid-19 antibody screening kits has been verified during a recent NHS evaluation.

For more information on COVID-19 testing in the Preston area, please contact our Customer Services team on 0333 600 1300, or email info@alphabiolabs.com

AlphaBiolabs has a Walk-in Centre located in Preston (appointment only) based at Unit 5, Albert Edward House, The Pavillions Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 2YB.