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A Testing Time for Businesses

February 15, 2021

Businesses across the UK and throughout the world face challenging times ahead as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to create havoc.

Some Business owners have closed their businesses down for good or greatly reduced their staff, whilst others have had to furlough their employees.

Where does the future lie for us as business owners?

Well, the World Health Organisation said “test, test, test” (click here to read the article).

There is an alternative and that is testing employees with antibody tests, which shows if you have had the infection some time ago and also if you have an early-stage infection which may prove very useful in identifying a person who is asymptomatic and could be spreading the virus. 

Here at LTC Healthcare (a UK sexual healthcare company since 1993), we are now selling Sure Screen antibody tests which are manufactured in the UK.

*There are 25 tests in each box and each box comes with 1 bottle of reactive agent.

Easy to Use ANTIBODY TESTING

The Surescreen antibody tests supplied by our company are really easy to use.

  • First you have to draw some Blood from your finger using a Unistik 3 safety lancet,
  • Then, draw the blood up with the capillary tube
  • Next, you need to drop one or two drops of blood on the cassette where it reads “S”
  • And finally, you need to add 2 drops of the reactive agent into the small well marked “B” to get the results.

How to use COVID-19 antibody test

(click here to watch the video)

Reading the Result

The test can detect 2 antibodies

The first antibody to be produced after incubation of the SARS-COV-2 Virus is IgM. (shown in studies to be at a detectable level in all patients 9 days post symptoms).

The antibody produced in the later stages is called IgG. (shown to be completely detectable in all patients during studies 16 days after symptoms).

What Does this mean for business?

Testing all their staff:

First of all, it gives business owners the opportunity to test all their staff to see if any of them have had the virus.

At this stage nobody really knows what having had the virus really means with regards to immunity however some level of immunity is expected.

Importantly the tests can pick up IgM antibodies which shows an early infection stage which could be very useful for business owners in that they may wish to send a person for further testing who is positive for IgM antibodies.

All the staff tested for COVID-19: Hair Salon Example

In a recent case, a business owner opened up their hair dressing salon and tested all their staff.

One person who showed no symptoms (asymptomatic) tested positive for IgM antibodies.

The business owner decided to send the staff member home and immediately a virus check with the NHS.

The hair dressing salon had a turnover of more than £10,000 per week, had the member of staff tested positive at a later date, then the whole salon potentially would have had to close down.

Here at LTC Healthcare we believe that there is a place for antibody testing within most business’s.

Guys and St Thomas Hospital and Kings College London have endorsed the tests we recommend.