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It’s one of the most popular retailers in the UK, and now Superdrug has announced that it has launched a £89 coronavirus antibody blood test that is 97.5% accurate.
The test is available at 30 Superdrug Health Clinics, and involves a blood sample being taken by a nurse, before it’s screened for coronavirus antibodies.
Michael Henry, Superdrug’s Healthcare Director, said: “Our nurses have the professional expertise to draw a venous blood sample which is the only type of blood sample used for Covid-19 antibody testing currently in line with government guidelines.
“We have 28 clinics currently open and should demand for this service exceed the current capacity in these clinics then we will seek to make more appointments available.
“While the antibody testing option of being able to draw your own blood via a finger prick test is still under review, people still want easy access to a service where they can find out if they have already been infected with COVID-19.
“Launching this nurse-led antibody testing service in our Health Clinics gives them the choice to find out.”
The blood test looks for the IgG antibody – the protein that develops in response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
If you test positive for the antibodies, it means that you have had the virus at some point.
Mr Henry added: “Receiving a positive antibody test result does not however confer immunity, and it’s important that people understand that it does not mean you can be any more relaxed with the required hygiene and social distancing measures as set out by the government.”
How the Superdrug antibody blood test works
The £89 test is available to anyone over 18. If you’ve recently developed Covid-19 symptoms, wait until at least 14 days after the start of those symptoms to apply for a test.
1. Pre-book an appointment by calling 03333111007 or visiting https://healthclinics.superdrug.com
2. Once an appointment has been booked with a Health Clinic, a link will be sent via email to register with Superdrug Online Doctor, where you’ll be asked complete a short questionnaire before the order is placed
3. On attending an appointment at the Health Clinic, a Superdrug nurse will check your photo ID, and complete a risk assessment for the blood test
4. Blood will be taken from the vein by a trained Superdrug nurse
5. Your test will be secured in packaging so you can post it to the UKAS-accredited lab using the pre-paid tracked packaging via a Royal Mail priority post box
6. The blood sample is tested at a UKAS accredited laboratory.
7. The results will be analysed by a Superdrug Online Doctor within 48 hours of the sample reaching the lab.
8. You will receive your results within two to three days of the blood sample reaching the laboratory. The test has a sensitivity of 97.5%. This means that it will detect positive antibodies 97.5% of the time
