This PHE-approved antibody test looks for both IgG and IgM antibodies against the coronavirus nucleocapsid protein.
A positive result indicates previous infection with coronavirus.
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Rapid, reliable coronavirus antibody tests
Government-approved coronavirus testing provider:
Rapid turnaround with results in 24 hours (from receiving sample)
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See if you've had coronavirus or have an immune response to the vaccine
CE-marked and PHE-approved tests by Roche
Coronavirus antibody test kits
Simple finger-prick blood test- UKAS-accredited and CE-marked
- Highly accurate laboratory analysis
- FREE express delivery
- Royal Mail Tracked 24 return to the lab
- Email results within 24 hours of receiving sample
There are two different types of antibody test:
Learn about COVID-19 antibody tests
Antibodies are small molecules produced by the immune system to fight infections. When the body has a new infection, the immune system starts to produce an antibody called IgM which has some activity against the infection. Over time, as the body clears the infection, it creates a better, more targeted antibody called IgG and it stops producing the IgM antibody. Often these IgG antibodies stay in the body for a while and provide protection against future infection with the same bug. Over time though, the body may stop producing even IgG antibodies.
There are a few reasons why you might want to take an coronavirus antibody test:
- See if you've had coronavirus
- See if you've produced an immune response to a vaccine
- Check if you have some immunity to coronavirus
Up to a third of people who get coronavirus have no symptoms so will not know they've had it. An antibody test can tell you if you've had coronavirus without even realising it.
The coronavirus vaccines are designed to trigger an immune response in much the same way as getting the virus itself. If you've had the vaccine, you can check your bodies response by looking to see if it has produced the "spike protein" antibody.
The latest data shows that most people who've had coronavirus develop antibodies. Furthermore, people with antibodies have significant protection against further infection with the virus. Even if individuals with antibodies get the virus, it's likely they will have a less severe illness. However, it's important to realise that even if you hae antibodies, you are not guaranteed to be immune to the virus.
If you get coronavirus, the body produces different types of antibody which attack different parts of the virus. Two such antibodies are against the "spike" protein and the "nucleocapsid" protein.
If you've been infected with coronavirus you'll actually develop both spike and nucleocapsid antibodies. However, we tend just to test for the nucleocapsid antibodies to say if someone has had the virus or not.
In contrast, if you've been vaccinated against coronavirus, you'll only develop spike antibodies because that's all the vaccine is designed to stimulate. A person who has been vacinated but not had coronavirus would therefor need to take the spike protein antibody test to check their immunity.
Studies show that antibody tests are most accurate when taken three weeks after being vaccinated or being infected with coronavirus. If you test before this, there's a chance your body wont have had time to make sufficient antibodies to detect.
Antibodies persist in the blood for different lengths of time for different people. Data suggests that most people have antibodies for at least 6 months after getting the virus. We don't yet know how long antibodies last after vaccination.
Frequently asked questions
We've gathered together a list of the most common questions people have. If you can't find the answer you're looking for please do get in touch.
Once we receive your order, it will be dispatched same-day for orders placed before 2pm (Mon - Fri) or next-day using DPD tracked next-day delivery. You'll receive a confirmation email containing your tracking number when your kit has been dispatched.
Orders placed from 2pm on Friday to Sunday will be dispatched on Monday and will not be received until Tuesday. Similarly, kits cannot be dispatched on public holidays.
This test is a finger-prick blood test, full instructions on how to collect your sample are included with your kit and you can download a copy here.
It is important to ensure you are well hydrated and that your hands are warm before you take the test. Placing your hand in a basin of warm water is a good way to warm up the hand.
Our laboratory partner has produced a useful instruction video for taking a finger prick blood sample.
Antibody kits come with a Royal Mail Tracked 24 return envelope in which to return your sample to the lab. We recommend only posting your samples Monday to Friday as Royal Mail do not collect over the weekend.
Please note, we cannot take responsibility for failure of Royal Mail (or other delivery service) to deliver samples to the laboratory for processing.
Our lab partner (TDL) is based in central London and is open 24/7 - you can drop a sample off in-person any time.
Between 7am - 7pm Monday to Friday and 7am - 1pm Saturday samples can be delivered to:
- The Doctors Laboratory Patient Reception
- 76 Wimpole Street
- London
- W1G 9RT
You can download a map to the patient reception here.
Outside of the above hours and for couriers, samples can be delivered to the main laboratory at:
- The Doctors Laboratory
- The Halo Building
- 1 Mabledon Place
- London
- WC1H 9AX
Samples delivered to the main lab need to be taken to the entrance at the rear of the building, on Flaxman Terrace road, directly opposite "Mabel's Tavern" Pub. Just ring the buzzer and one of the lab staff will come and take the sample(s) from you. You can download a map here.
Once your sample has been received in the laboratory, we aim to return your result within 24 hours.
You will receive an email containing your result and an explanation of what it means. We take you through a process to verify your email address before receiving results to ensure that it's secure.
We're a government-approved provider of coronavirus testing and we use The Doctor's Laboratory (TDL) for our antibody testing. They are a UKAS accredited lab (i.e. accredited by the government's regulatory agency) and approved for use by Public Health England. Their status as an accredited laboratory can be easily verified on the UKAS website and an accreditation certificate downloaded.
We only dispatch kits Monday to Friday (before 2pm) via DPD next-day delivery. If you order on a Saturday or Sunday, your test kit will be dispatched on Monday, to arrive on Tuesday.
Firstly, it is important to be clear that our test kits may only be sold to adults.
The antibody test kit can be used with children but young children may find the finger-prick uncomfortable.
Important: Our Commitment To You
We have processed thousands of coronavirus tests and deliver results quickly in the vast majority of cases. However, it's important to be clear about what we can and cannot guarantee.
Self-test kits are dispatched by DPD using a next-day delivery service and you will be provided with tracking information. Delays in delivery are rare but, once dispatched by us, we have no direct control over delivery and cannot accept liability for delays. We highly recommend you order test kits well in advance of when you need to take your sample.
Self-test kits come with a Royal Mail Tracked 24 return envelope to get your sample back to the lab for analysis. The vast majority of samples are delivered to the lab the day after Royal Mail collect from your postbox. However, please bear in mind that last collection times vary and there are no collections (or lab deliveries) on Sundays or public holidays. We have no direct control over samples once they're in the Royal Mail network and cannot accept responsibility for delays in sample return.
The majority of results are sent out within 24 hours of the lab receiving the sample and over 98% of results are back within 48 hours. However, there could be occasions beyond our control where testing volumes rise suddenly and analysis takes longer. We do not own the lab we work with and have no direct control over this. We can't take responsibility for losses (financial or otherwise) caused by the time between the sample being taken and the result being received.
Ocassionally blood samples may clot in the sample tube or the volume of blood may not be sufficient for analysis. This is rare and we will send you another kit to retake your sample.
We pride ourselves on delivering the best customer service experience possible and our customers agree in their reviews on Trustpilot. We will always respond to you quickly and kindly and will always do our best to help you.
We're frontline doctors
We're a group of frontline doctors who strongly believe in responsible medical testing. We want to help people to control of their health through transparent, evidence-based information and access to medical testing.
Dr James Kinross
- MBBS FRCS PhD
James is a consultant surgeon at St Mary’s Hospital in London and a Senior Clinical Lecturer at Imperial College London. His research interests include the application of novel technologies for diagnostics in human health.
James is a consultant surgeon at St Mary’s Hospital in London and a Senior Clinical Lecturer at Imperial College London. His research interests include the application of novel technologies for diagnostics in human health.
Dr Claire Merrifield
- MBBS MRCGP PhD
Claire is a GP in London. Claire’s undergraduate degree was related to infectious disease in animals and humans and her doctorate thesis at Imperial College London looked at the interactions between probiotics, the immune system and gut metabolism.
Claire is a GP in London. Claire’s undergraduate degree was related to infectious disease in animals and humans and her doctorate thesis at Imperial College London looked at the interactions between probiotics, the immune system and gut metabolism.
Dr Alasdair Scott
- MBBS MRCS PhD
Alasdair received his medical degree and PhD from Imperial College London and is a surgical registrar in London. Alasdair is a Clinical Lecturer at Imperial College London and is involved in research into the interactions between micro-organisms and human health.
Alasdair received his medical degree and PhD from Imperial College London and is a surgical registrar in London. Alasdair is a Clinical Lecturer at Imperial College London and is involved in research into the interactions between micro-organisms and human health.