The Coronavirus home collection test kit contains a nasal and throat swab which collect a sample of cells which is then sent back to a lab for testing.
The lab performs a very sensitive test that looks for the RNA of the virus using a technique called RT-PCR. RT-PCR tests work by detecting specific genetic material known as viral RNA within the virus.
By detecting viral RNA, which will be present in the body before symptoms of the disease are present, the tests can tell whether or not someone has the virus very early on.