The test cassette will work with whole blood, plasma or serum. Capillary blood is the easiest to obtain via a finger pinprick, however, venous blood obtained via venipuncture is also suitable. The type of sample will not affect the sensitivity or accuracy of the test.

The test strip has three different lines; one for IgG, one for IgM and one control line. There are four different valid results:

IgM + Control – The sample is positive for IgM. This means the patient is in the early stages of an infection and combined with the common symptoms, is positive for COVID-19

IgG + IgM + Control – The sample is positive for both IgG and IgM and therefore positive for COVID-19

Control only – The blood sample is negative for COVID-19

If the control line does not appear, the test is void and should be repeated, irrespective of how many test lines are visible.

For the result, the window of accuracy is 10-15 minutes after you add the sample and buffer solution. If you forget to read the results after this time, the test may not be accurate and you should repeat it.

Spring Healthcare conducted a clinical study in Wuhan, China, where it compared the test cassette to conventional laboratory tests for COVID-19 diagnosis, which also detected the presence of IgG/IgM in 902 blood samples. They obtained the following results:

Sensitivity > 91%

Specificity > 99%

Accuracy > 94%

This clinical study is evidence of the usability and effectiveness of the test.

The shelf-life is 18 months from the date of manufacture. The product expiry is printed onto the packaging for reference. Do not use after the expiry date.

No, the more people that are tested, the better it will be to understand the spread of the virus, which will result in better measures being taken to prevent its spread.
However, as the test requires a blood sample, anyone with a blood-related health condition (such as hemophilia) should discuss this with a healthcare professional before performing a test.

Yes, the COVID-19 test is FDA Certified for professional use and is therefore a registered IVD device.

Immunoglobulins are antibodies and are important parts of our immune system. When we get an infection, such as COVID-19, immunoglobulins are produced, which attach to the virus and activate the rest of the immune system to attack and clear the virus. IgM is the first immunoglobulin to be produced and is a general antibody that can bind to many different types of pathogen. The presence of IgM is an indicator of an early infection. IgG is a more specialized antibody that specifically binds to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The presence of IgG is an indicator of later stage infection (usually 7 days or longer after infection).

Yes, there are no issues with testing babies and young children.

In this case, there are two options. Either you are infected and may begin to display symptoms in the next few days, or you are infected but are asymptomatic (you won’t display symptoms). In both cases, you should treat it as though you are positive for the virus and should follow the appropriate local healthcare guidelines. Speak to your healthcare practitioner for further advice.

Yes, the test will be able to detect IgM/IgG in asymptomatic people, as they will have an immune response even though they don’t display symptoms. The timeline of infection will be the same as someone displaying symptoms.

To date Spring Healthcare has tested numerous common pharmaceuticals, none of which have interfered with the test. Also, Rheumatoid Factor does not interfere with the test, hence there are no cross-reactivity issues. Spring Healthcare is continuing to look at more drugs and will update customers accordingly.

There is some evidence that IgG/IgM remains in the blood after recovery to prevent reinfection. Spring Healthcare has tested some patients and noticed that they still test positive for at least 33 days after first displaying symptoms. You won’t be infectious after you recover, even if you test positive, but you should still be cautious as long term immunity has not yet been confirmed and reinfection may still occur.

Yes, there is no harm to the mother or baby when performing a test.

If you test positive, you should follow your state and local government’s advice on COVID-19 infection. This usually means self-isolation for 14 days, avoiding contact with others and remaining hydrated. Most cases of COVID-19 are mild and recovery only takes a few days, so there’s no need to panic. Speak to your healthcare practitioner for further advice.

A negative result means the biomarkers are not present in your blood, but you should still exercise caution, as you may still be in the early stages of infection (before IgM levels rise to a detectable level). If symptoms develop, follow the protocols as above and retest as necessary. If symptoms do not develop, it is unlikely you have COVID-19, but you should still follow strict hygiene procedures. Ensure you wash your hands regularly, avoid social gatherings and work from home if possible. There’s no need to retest unless you suspect you have contracted the infection and are displaying symptoms.

If you have the common symptoms of COVID-19 (fever and cough), you likely have contracted the infection and should self-isolate. It is likely your IgG/IgM levels haven’t risen to a detectable level yet. You can be tested again 24 hours later for confirmation if required. Speak to your healthcare practitioner for further advice.