Free lateral flow tests are still available for people who do not have symptoms of coronavirus in Scotland.
Around one in three people with the virus don’t show symptoms, so can spread to others without knowing, according to NHS Inform.
The home test kits, which are designed to detect Covid-19 antigens, are a way of providing a fast result in just 30 minutes - unlike PCR tests, which need to be sent to a lab.
When reading a lateral flow results, one pink/red line next to the control marker C means you've got a negative results.
A second line next to marker T (test) is a sign of a positive result. If there is one line next to T (and no line next to C), or no lines, your test is void. This means your test did not run correctly.
But what does a faint second line on a test result mean, and is it negative, positive or void?
What does a faint line mean?
According to the gov.uk website, lateral flow tests can be less sensitive when a person has lower levels of the virus in their system.
The government guidance states that “… even faint lines, shows the test is positive”.
It adds: “Result lines may appear smudged or faint, but they are still valid results and must be reported.”
So, even if lines are faint it is likely you are positive and currently infected with coronavirus. You should report this test result and carry out a PCR to confirm the result.
Are lateral flow test kits free?
Lateral flow test kits are currently still free and can be ordered from the government website.
These are delivered to your home or can be picked up from a local pharmacy using a collection code.
However, free lateral flow testing will no longer be available in Scotland from the end of April, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.
From the start of May all routine testing will be scrapped, including for those with symptoms.
Permanent testing centres will be closed, and facilities will only remain to protect high-risk settings and manage outbreaks.
The Scottish Government is due to provide more information on the end of free lateral flow tests.
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