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How to take a sample: Phase 1

The phase 1 study uses the Fortress Fast test kit

Instructional video for Fortress Fast home test kit

If your kit does not look like the above Fortress Fast home test kit, please follow this link to watch our instructional video for the AbC-19TM Rapid Test kit.

Getting ready

-> Choose a time when you have been up for a little while and have been moving around.

-> It’s important to be well hydrated – drink two glasses of water about 30 minutes before you provide your blood sample.

-> Please double check that your kit is a Fortress Fast Home test kit, in a plain white box with an instruction booklet which is titled ‘Coronavirus antibody test for research purposes only’. If you have an AbC-19TM kit in a white box with blue and red writing, please click here for complete instructions on how to use your test kit.

Preparing yourself

-> Make plenty of space on a clean table, then lay out the pieces of the test kit in front of you.

-> Take the testing stick out of its foil wrapper and arrange the pieces of the test kit on your table.

-> Arrange the various pieces of the test kit on a clean area of a table.

Step 1

Please wash your hands with warm water and soap, then dry them with a clean towel.

Step 2

Hold the yellow lancet and twist the cap one full turn to unlock, then pull the cap until you feel it separate from the device. Remove the cap completely.

Step 3

Choose a spot on the fleshy bit or side of one finger as pictured here. Wipe the area on your finger with the alcohol wipe.

Step 4

To draw blood, press the uncapped end of the lancet firmly against your wiped finger until you hear a click.

Step 5

Squeeze your finger from the base of your finger towards the fingertip. This will move the blood towards where you pricked your finger. Do this until you form a large droplet of blood.

 

Step 6

Allow a large drop of blood to fall into the square shaped well marked ‘S’ as shown in the picture below. If you prefer, you can use the pipette to collect the blood droplet. If you don’t get enough blood, repeat the prick with the orange lancet provided. You can do this from the same finger or a different finger.

Step 7

Remove the cap from the buffer liquid container and add two drops to the circular well at the bottom (marked ‘B’) as shown in the picture above.


Step 8

Once the buffer liquid has been added, wait for 10 minutes but no longer than 15 minutes. If after two minutes the blue line has not turned red, add one additional drop of buffer liquid to the buffer well (marked ‘B’).

Step 9 

We need you to share your test result with us as soon as possible. Please log in to the participant website and click on "Enter test result".

Log in here


What do the results mean?

The results may fall into three categories, Invalid, Negative or Positive. Please review the images on the right to find the one that matches the pattern that has appeared on your testing stick. 

Invalid test result

Your test result is invalid if the line next to ‘C’ is still completely or partially blue, whether or not there are other visible lines next to ‘G’ or ‘M’. This means the test has not worked and no result can be given.

Negative test result

Your test result is negative if the line next to ‘C’ is completely red and there are no lines next to ‘G’ or ‘M’.

IgG positive test result

Your test result is positive if the line next to ‘C’ is completely red and there is a line (no matter how light or dark) next to ‘G’ or ‘G’ and ‘M’.

IgM positive test result

Your test result is positive if the line next to ‘C’ is completely red and there is a line (no matter how light or dark) next to ‘M’.

Step 10 

You have now completed the test and can safely dispose of the test kit. Please do the following:

  • Place the testing stick back into its foil wrapper.
  • Place all of the test kit items into the plastic case they came in.
  • Dispose of the kit with your regular household waste.
  • Keep out of reach of children and pets.

Safety precautions:

  • In case of accidental skin exposure to the buffer liquid, wash the exposed area with soap and water.
  • In case of accidental eye exposure to the buffer liquid, rinse the eyes thoroughly with cool water.
  • If irritation or any other symptoms develop after accidental ingestion or exposure to the buffer liquid, call NHS 111 to seek medical advice.

A replacement kit can be requested by logging into the UK Biobank website at https://biobank.ndph.ox.ac.uk/members/ and clicking on “Replacement kit”. Here you can provide details about any problems encountered with your antibody testing kit.

If you had an adverse reaction, were harmed as a result of undertaking the test, or had any other problems please contact our Participant Resource Centre on 0800 0 276 276.

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