What is Rapid Antigen Testing, and how accurate is it?

Rapid Antigen Tests are designed to support communities and businesses with fast and accurate diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2, thus minimising the risk of Covid-19 entering the workplace.

BST Health has access to a leading range of Covid-19 Antigen Test Kits.

Each kit contains everything needed for testing, making it extremely easy and convenient to use. This very cost-effective solution delivers highly accurate results in just 15 minutes.

The tests are done the same way as the clinic-run PCR test. Unfortunately, you still have to stick a swab up your nose. But, at least you won’t have to wait hours in a line to get that swab!

Nor do you have to isolate a day or more, because the results are rapidly revealed in 15 minutes.

How do Rapid Antigen Test Kits work?

Rapid antigen test cards use a strip, which is pre-coated with a gold conjugate that is rehydrated when a sample is applied. To get the result, you just add the nasal swab to the chemical solution, and then place that solution onto the reactive strip.

The control line (C) is coated with a monoclonal antibody that will react with a human sample. As the sample moves upward, this antibody will bind and trap normal antigens and show a line, indicating that the test is valid.

The test line (T) is coated with a human antibody specific to SARS-CoV-2 and will bind to any covid antigens present in the sample, turning the small coating into a different colour, thus indicating a positive test.

Are rapid antigen tests accurate?

RAT kits are not as accurate as PCR laboratory tests, because PCR is a very advanced lab-based testing method. However, depending on the manufacturer, antigen test kits are highly accurate. The MP Biomedical antigen test kit, which Tools for Schools supply, is over 98% accurate. The proof is in the numbers, as more than 112 million of the tests have been distributed globally to over 20 countries.

The key benefit of an Antigen Test Kit is that false negatives do not occur, only invalid or false positives. In that case, immediately seek a professional opinion.

How long does RAT screening take?

RAT testing is a very rapid process, taking only 15 minutes to get a result, and about 20 minutes in total. In fact, waiting any longer than around 20 mins for a result can impact the integrity of the test.

Find the Rapid Antigen Testing kits here