The symptoms of COVID-19 can vary. Some people do not have any symptoms, others experience mild symptoms such as fever, cough, loss of taste or smell, or diarrhoea. But it can also cause more serious symptoms such as difficulty in breathing3. Usually, it takes 5 – 6 days for symptoms to develop after an exposure to SARS CoV 2, but sometimes it can take as long as 14 days.

This is what is called a rapid antigen saliva test for COVID. It is only to be used to collect saliva from your mouth. DO NOT PLACE ANY PART IN ANY OTHER PART OF YOUR BODY.

If you are not close to a clock or a watch you may want to have a timer available for the test procedure.

1. Before opening the test please make sure you wash your hands with soap and then dry them. The use of latex or nitrile gloves are recommended but not mandatory.
2. Open a single test packet and remove the two parts to the test. The part that looks like a lollipop shape is the part you need to collect saliva with. Hold it by the larger flat end, not the end with the sponge. Place the other part on a flat surface.
3. Place the swab/sponge end in your mouth and swap towards the back of the inside of your cheeks and tongue keeping the sponge touching the inside of your mouth for 90 seconds and/or until the sponge has turned blue
4. You will need to remove it from your mouth to see if the indicator on the back of the sponge has turned blue.
5. Still holding the larger end of the lollipop looking part of the test you now need to click the sponge part into the rectangle opening of the second part of the test device. You need to click it into place.
6. Keeping an eye on the time, read the results between 10 and 14 minutes. After 15 minutes you can no longer read the test results.
7. There should always be a visible coloured line in the C or control section of the test. If not, it is invalid and you will need to complete the full test with a new device.

Interpreting results:

Positive = Any coloured line in the T part of the test as well as the C part of the test. It does not matter how faint the line is in the T section it is a positive result.

Negative = Only a coloured line in the C section and absolutely no line at all in the T section.

​Invalid = no line visible in the C section of the test

Yes.  Do not eat or drink anything  30 minutes before taking the test as this could lead to an incorrect result.

A coloured line will appear in the control area (C) of the test cassette if the test has been properly performed – if this line is not visible then the test has been incorrectly performed and you must repeat the test using a new one or ask additional questions here.

Even if there is the faintest visible coloured line in the Control (C) area of the test it can be considered valid.

What could a reason be for an invalid result?

There may not have been enough saliva volume, an incorrect sample collection, use of expired components or not following the instructions correctly.

Yes, the following inactivated cultures of COVID-19 can be detected by the V-Chek test:

• SARS-CoV-2 Isolate: USA-WA1/2020, can be detected by the V-Chek test at concentrations of 100 TCID50/mL or more.

• Alpha (B.1.1.7), Delta (B.1617.2) and Kappa (B.1.617.1) variants can be detected by the V-Chek test at concentrations of 200 TCID50/mL or more.

•  Omicron (B.1.1.529 variant). SARS-CoV-2 Isolate: hCoV-19/USA/GA-EHC-2811C/2021 can be detected by the V-Chek test at concentrations of 400 TCID50/mL or more.

The V-Chek™ COVID-19 Saliva Test (Lollipop Test)  has been found to detect the Omicron B.1.1.529 variant.

SARS-CoV-2 Isolate: hCoV-19/USA/GA-EHC-2811C/2021 can be detected by the V-Chek test at concentrations of 400 TCID50/mL or more.

No interference has been observed when testing the following substances: Whole Blood, Tamiflu (Oseltamivir), Ibuprofen, Naphthoxoline hydrochloride nasal drops, Tetracycline, Mucin, Chloramphenicol, Fisherman’s Friend, Erythromycin, Compound Benzocain Gel, Tobramycin, Cromoglycate, Throat spray (Menthol), Sinex (Phenylephrine Hydrochloride), Mupirocin, Afrin (Oxymetazoline), Throat lozenge (Menthol) or Fluticasone propionate spray

No. The test can only be used once. Used tests must be disposed of properly in the supplied Bio hazard bag.

The test has to be used straight out of the sterile packaging; within minutes. If you drop it, it must be disposed of.

The test must be used at room temperature – between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius. Leave the test in the packaging and allow it to come to room temperature for 30 minutes before use.

Storing it in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight between 2 and 30 degrees Celsius is required.

No. You must dispose of expired tests and use an in-date test.

It can vary depending on when you purchase your tests. Please refer to the expiry date on the packaging.

Note that you are currently susspected of COVID-19 infection.

• Please contact your GP for support
• Self Isolate.
• Comply with all applicable local rules and protective measures.

State and Territory COVID Hotlines/Websites:

NSW

Telephone 137788      Website

VIC 

Telephone 1800 675 398       Website

QLD 

Telephone 134268       Website

TAS

Telephone 1800 671 738       Website

SA

Telephone 1800 253 787       Website

NT

Telephone 1800 020 080       Website

WA

Telephone 1800 595 206       Website

ACT  

Telephone 02 6207 7244       Website

RAT tests are to be used as a diagnostic test only and are to be used within 7 days of the user showing signs and symptoms of Covid-19. Viral loads (the amount of Corona virus present in the patient) change daily, even hourly, so a PCR test taken one day may differ the very next. The Limit Of Detection (LOD) of the V-Chek as per extensive laboratory studies is 200 TCID50ML, however different rapid tests have varying LOD’s for different virus strains (Delta, Alpha, Kappa etc).

The rate of error diminishes significantly if at-home tests are completed over consecutive days
(Professor Catherine Bennett, Chair of Epidemiology at Deakin University, The Age, 27.12.21).,

If you are unsure or concerned about your test result,  self isolate and consult your GP as required.

This is because the test hasn’t been performed correctly and is due to two possible reasons: 

1) the swab hasn’t collected enough saliva to complete the test or,

2) the swab has collected enough saliva, but hasn’t been clipped correctly into the test cassette (buffer solution). 

The best way to avoid an invalid result is to 1st read the Test Procedure Steps carefully. These are located in 3 places; on the reverse side of the packaging (all pack sizes except 20 pack), on the swab packaging itself & in the Instructions For Use included with each test. 

Solution for issue 1): swab the mouth for 90 seconds & check the back of the swab to ensure it has turned blue before clipping into the test cassette. If the swab hasn’t turned blue it hasn’t collected enough saliva & it’ll deliver an invalid result.

Solution for issue 2): ensure you 1st insert the swab into the test cassette at a 45 degree angle so that the little tab on the end of the swab fits neatly into the hole, then push down so that the whole swab (lollipop) clips neatly into the cassette & the sponge is pushed firmly down against the buffer solution. If the swab is not clicked in properly it’ll deliver an invalid result.

Different brands of RAT’s shouldn’t be compared to one another to measure product efficacy, results should only be confirmed with a gold standard PCR test. This is because some RAT tests have a sensitivity (accuracy) starting from as low as 80% and some have an accuracy are as high as 98%. However, even after doing a PCR test to confirm your results, viral loads change daily, even hourly, so a positive or negative PCR taken one day may yield a different result the next.

Rapid Antigen Tests are designed to detect infectious levels of the virus. As symptoms severity does not always equal contagious virus, they may be negative for 1-3 days after symptom onset in some cases, before the viral load is high enough to detect. (Michael Mina, an American epidemiologist, immunologist and physician.)

·       If you are symptomatic and have suspicions of an infection, continue to follow all public health advice on limiting the spread of the virus and repeat the test after 1-2 days.

The V-Chek Test is intended for use in the first 7 days of symptom onset. Taking a test too early in the infectious period can affect the result of the V-Chek test. TGA advises waiting 48 hours after coming into contact with a known Covid-positive person before completing a RAT, and within five to seven days after exposure.

·       If you are symptomatic and have suspicions of an infection, continue to follow all public health advice on limiting the spread of the virus and repeat the test after 1-2 days.

If a coloured line appears at the bottom of the test screen instead of next to the letter T, this does NOT indicate a positive result. 

This can occur:

• if the test has been left longer than 15 minutes, which has caused the paper in the test screen to bleed, or
• due to the product manufacturing technology. This situation cannot be completely avoided, with the probability of a line appearing at the bottom of the test screen is 0.5%, and can be effected by the viscosity of the saliva sample.

If there is a coloured line in the control area (C) of the test cassette this indicates the test has been performed correctly, even if the line is very faint. This result would be considered valid. If there is no line next to the C, then the test has been incorrectly performed and we encourage you to complete another test. 

Positive = 2 lines. Any coloured line in the T part of the test as well as the C part of the test. It does not matter how faint the line in the T section it is still a positive result. 

Negative = 1 line. Only a coloured line in the C section and absolutely no line at the T section. 

Invalid = no line visible in section C of the test