Coronavirus home tests

Updated 7 August 2024

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There are two main types of coronavirus home tests: antigen tests and antibody tests. 

On this page:

• Take the following into account when considering home testing
• Antigen tests
• Antibody tests
• How to identify a COVID-19 home test that meets requirements
• Please take the following into account when taking a home test

Take the following into account when considering home testing

It is worth remembering that no test is 100% certain. The test may produce a false negative or false positive result.  Therefore, it is important that you follow the instructions under the “Interpretation of an antigen test result” heading. 

If you have symptoms consistent with a coronavirus infection, you can perform an antigen test at home. In certain situations, however, it is important for you to get a coronavirus test conducted by public health services. A list of these situations can be found in the link below.
Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

Antigen tests

Antigen home tests are suitable for detection of an acute coronavirus infection. Antigen tests are best at detecting an infection when at most 5 days have passed since the onset of symptoms. 

How can I determine whether the home test is intended for testing a person with or without symptoms? 
Five questions about COVID-19 home tests (Fimea, in Finnish)

Interpretation of an antigen test result

The instructions below are general instructions for interpreting home test results. You should also carefully read the instructions supplied by the test’s manufacturer.

Positive result

• We recommend that you stay at home until the symptoms have clearly decreased and the temperature is gone. 
• If you develop serious symptoms, including shortness of breath, or if your general condition gets worse, you should contact the healthcare services without delay. 
• If you need to go to public places or public transport, you can wear a mask, if you wish.

Negative result

• If the result of your antigen test is negative, no coronavirus infection could be detected with this test at the time of testing.
• Even if the home test produces a negative result, this does not mean that the incubation period for coronavirus disease could not be in progress and the disease might be observed later.
• In certain cases, we recommend that you get tested by public health services, if necessary. This is because several factors increase the uncertainty of the home test result. The certainty of the home test result can be influenced by e.g. the ability of the test used to detect a coronavirus infection, the success of sampling and the timing of sampling. 
  Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

Antibody tests

The antibody test is not suitable for acute coronavirus infection detection. 

Antibody tests detect antibodies formed by the body against the coronavirus. These antibodies have been born either as a result of coronavirus infection or vaccination. Therefore, antibody tests do not directly detect the virus itself. 

Antibody tests at home are performed on a blood sample from a person’s fingertip. The antibodies rise to a detectable level in the blood depending on the antibody class within approximately one to three weeks of infection. In the early stages of a coronavirus infection, the test may give a negative result due to insufficient antibodies having formed. For this reason, the antibody test does not reliably indicate whether the person currently has a coronavirus infection. 

Antibodies formed as a result of infection or vaccination may remain measurable in the blood for several months or even years.

Interpretation of the antibody test result 

The characteristics of the test used affect which antibodies can be measured by the test. 

As a result of the infection, antibodies are formed against several virus structures. Such structures include nucleoprotein and spike protein. 

• Only as a result of an infection, antibodies are formed against virus nucleoprotein. 
• Both infection and vaccination produce antibodies against the virus's spike protein. 

The home test can measure either IgM class antibodies, IgG class antibodies, or both. 

• IgM antibodies may still be present in the blood several weeks after infection. 
• IgG antibodies remain in circulation for several months, up to years after infection or vaccination.

If the antibody test results are positive, you probably have antibodies that have been formed either as a result of a coronavirus infection or vaccination. 

Based on the antibody test, the need for vaccination cannot be assessed

The positive or negative result of the antibody test does not indicate protection and duration of protection against coronavirus infection or disease. The protection is based not only on antibodies but also on memory cells and T-cells. Although the number of antibodies decreases over time, protection against severe coronavirus disease may still remain for a long time. 

The antibody test result may also be false positive or false negative. 

How to identify a COVID-19 home test that meets requirements 

• A product intended for the consumer includes marketing claims such as ”itse suoritettavaan testaukseen/ för själv-testning / device for self-testing”.
• Home tests must bear a CE marking indicating compliance. The CE marking must also show the four-digit code of the Notified Body that assessed the product, e.g. CE 0999.
• The manufacturer's name and contact details must be visible on the packaging and on the instructions. In the case of non-EU manufacturers, the packaging or instructions for use must also include information on an authorised EU representative (abbr. EC Rep.). Shortcomings in this information usually also indicates other shortcomings.
• The home test sold in Finland must contain simple and clear instructions for consumers in both Finnish and Swedish. 
• The package contains all the necessary tools to perform the test at home.

Please take the following into account when performing a home test

• Check that the package is intact. 
• Check the expiration date and correct storage conditions.
• If you doubt the product’s reliability, do not use it.
• When performing the test, carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions. 
• Interpret the result according to the manufacturer's instructions. 
• If you suspect a product error and the product is not functioning as it should, notify the product’s seller.
• No test on the market is 100% accurate. Many factors related to taking the test and its timing may affect the result. 

COVID-19 home tests are regulated by provisions laid down in the Medical Devices Act (629/2010).
Information on device-related legislation (Fimea)

According to section 7 of the Infectious Diseases Act, THL acts as a national specialist institution for the prevention of communicable diseases and provides instructions to the population to avoid infection and prevent the spread of the disease. The guidelines issued by THL are not legally binding.