Sample Collection Options:
At our laboratory
At your workplace within Athens
At home within Athens
At workplaces outside Athens, by prior arrangement
For more information regarding opening hours, appointments, cost of individual tests, payment methods, and result delivery, please see [HERE].
Available Tests:
Molecular RT-PCR Testing for SARS-CoV-2 Detection
According to the guidelines of the Hellenic National Public Health Organization (EODY) and other organizations such as the CDC/FDA, the gold standard test for diagnosing or excluding SARS-CoV-2 infection is molecular detection via Real-Time RT-PCR, with a reliability of 95–99%.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, LIFE CODE Medical Ltd. has developed and implemented 2-step Real-Time RT-PCR testing targeting two viral genes (E and RdRp) according to the World Health Organization (WHO) protocol, updated continuously.
This approach increases result reliability compared to other RT-PCR methods or kits that target only one gene and do not account for critical viral mutations. Pooling of samples is not applied, ensuring that low-positive samples are not missed.
This methodology provides a 99.9% result accuracy.
Turnaround Time: 6 to 24 hours from the time the sample is delivered to our center.
Molecular RT-PCR for simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A, and Influenza B
Simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A or B from the same sample at the same time.
It is recommended for patients with flu-like symptoms (excluding loss of taste and smell) in order to optimize patient management and avoid repeat SARS-CoV-2 testing. The test is intended for use from January through mid-April.
Turnaround time: 6 to 24 hours from the time the sample is delivered to our laboratory.
Rapid Antigen Test
The test is from ROCHE Diagnostics with CE–IVD marking and has the following characteristics, which, as with all tests of this type, may be affected by the prevalence of the infection in the population:
Specificity: 99.68%
Sensitivity: 96.52%
Reagents: mAb anti-COVID-19 antibody, mAb anti-Chicken IgY, mAb anti-COVID-19 antibody–gold conjugate, Purified chicken IgY–gold conjugate
Antibody Test
Since January 1, 2021, the test is provided by ROCHE Diagnostics with CE-IVD marking, capable of both qualitative and quantitative detection.
The test targets antibodies directed against the region of the novel coronavirus known as the spike protein, which is the region that allows the virus to bind to a host cell receptor and is required for viral entry into the host cell.
Many current candidate vaccines aim to elicit an antibody response against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Tests that quantify antibodies to the spike protein can be used to measure the level of this response and monitor it over time. The assay provides a numerical result indicating the antibody concentration from 0.40–250 U/mL, as well as a qualitative result.
Turnaround time: 24–48 hours from the time the sample is delivered to our laboratory.