COVID testing FAQ
Common questions about Remedium COVID tests, combo COVID/flu kits and at-home PCR.
- How accurate is a Remedium rapid COVID-19 antigen test?
- Remedium antigen kits report greater than 98% sensitivity against RT-PCR when used during the symptomatic period of peak viral load, and high specificity. Accuracy is lowest in the first 24 hours of infection and in asymptomatic screening, which is why serial testing 24–48 hours apart is recommended.
- How long do results take?
- Antigen and 3-in-1 combo tests are read at 15 minutes and must not be interpreted after 30 minutes. The at-home PCR collection kit is processed by a laboratory and reported the next day after receipt.
- What is a 3-in-1 COVID and flu combo test?
- A single nasal swab is used to run three lateral-flow strips at once: SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A and Influenza B. This is the same format as the iHealth COVID-19/Flu A&B, BinaxNOW COVID-19/Flu A&B Card and Equate COVID-19 & Flu A/B tests. It is useful when symptoms could plausibly be either COVID-19 or influenza.
- A faint test line appeared. Is that positive?
- Yes. Any visible test line next to a valid control line is a positive result, regardless of intensity. Line intensity does not indicate how infectious you are.
- There is no control line. What do I do?
- The test is invalid, usually due to insufficient buffer, an expired kit or an incorrect drop count. Discard it and repeat with a fresh kit following the instructions for use.
- Should I confirm a negative antigen result with PCR?
- If you have symptoms, a known exposure, or you are about to visit someone vulnerable, retest after 24–48 hours or use an at-home PCR collection kit. PCR detects much lower viral loads than antigen testing.
- Does Remedium ship internationally?
- Yes. Remedium PTE dispatches orders with same-day handling on orders placed before 3pm, and ships to customers in the USA, Europe and other regions worldwide.
- How should used tests be disposed of?
- Seal the swab, buffer tube and cassette in the disposal bag supplied with the kit and place it in general waste. Wash your hands afterwards.
Still unsure which kit you need? Compare Remedium test kits or read our testing guides.