SureScreen

SureScreen is a UK diagnostics manufacturer whose rapid flow tests were among those issued to households during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are searching for the name today, it is most likely because you have found an old test kit in a cupboard, a first aid box or an emergency kit and want to know whether it is still any use. The short answer is that it almost certainly is not: the official COVID-19 self-test guidance was updated on 30 April 2024 to remove information about SureScreen tests, along with ACON flowflex and Orient Gene tests, because all test kits issued will have expired by now¹.

That matters for a household getting ready for emergencies. A test kit is only useful if it works when you reach for it, and an expired or damaged one can give a false sense of security. Check the expiry date on the box, dispose of anything out of date, and do not rely on an old test to decide whether you are infectious.

What SureScreen makes for UK households

SureScreen's products that this site mentions are rapid flow test kits for home use. These are the small boxed tests with a swab, a buffer liquid and a plastic cassette that shows a result in a window after a few minutes. They were designed for people to use at home without training, which is why they appeared in so many kitchen drawers and glove compartments during the pandemic.

For emergency planning, the important point is that a test kit is a consumable with a shelf life, not a piece of durable kit. It does not need power, it does not need water, and it does not stop working in a power cut. What it does need is to be in date and undamaged. That makes it different from a torch or a battery radio, which you can test and recharge. A test kit sits quietly until you need it, and then either works or does not.

The kits issued have expired¹. Check the date printed on your own box rather than assuming a period.

Test kits for home use

Home test kits were issued in batches, and the public health arrangements differed across the UK. In Northern Ireland, the Public Health Agency set out how testing worked, including booking arrangements; at one point a maximum of four test kits could be booked with each booking². That figure is a record of how the scheme operated, not a recommendation for how many to keep.

If you are building an emergency kit now, think about what a test kit is for. It tells you whether you are likely to be infectious, which can help you decide whether to stay away from vulnerable neighbours or family members during an outbreak. It does not treat anything and it does not replace medical advice. The site's guide to health emergencies sets out the wider picture on outbreaks and medicine supplies.

A sensible approach for a household is:

• Keep no more tests than you will realistically use before they expire.
• Store them somewhere dry and at room temperature, away from damp sheds and hot cupboards.
• Write the expiry date on your calendar or phone so you check it, rather than discovering it when you need the test.
• Replace kits only when you have a reason to, not as a standing stock.

How to use a SureScreen test safely

A rapid test is a simple piece of equipment, but it still deserves the same care you would give any household item that goes near your body. The Health and Safety Executive's advice on electrical equipment is a useful parallel: equipment should be visually checked to spot early signs of damage or deterioration before use³. Apply the same principle to a test kit. Look at the box, the sealed pouch and the swab before you open anything.

The steps below follow the standard pattern for a rapid flow test. Always read the leaflet in your own box, because the maker's instructions for that kit take precedence.

1. Wash your hands before you start, and again afterwards.
2. Check the expiry date and the batch number on the box and the pouch.
3. Open the pouch only when you are ready to use the test.
4. Follow the leaflet for the swab and the buffer liquid exactly.
5. Wait the time stated in the leaflet before reading the result.
6. Dispose of the used test in your normal household waste, not the recycling.

If you are storing tests alongside other emergency supplies, keep them out of reach of children and pets. The NHS advises keeping small items that could be swallowed away from babies and toddlers⁴, and a test kit with a small plastic cassette and a buffer tube falls into that category.

Reading a result and what to do next

A rapid test result is read in the window of the cassette. The leaflet in the box explains what a positive, negative and invalid result look like for that specific kit. The general rule is that the control line must appear for the test to count at all. If no control line appears, the test has not worked, whatever else you see.

An unclear result, such as a very faint line or a smudge, should be treated as invalid rather than negative. Do not guess. If you are unwell and need advice, contact NHS 111 or your GP. The site's guide to first aid at home covers what to keep ready for minor illness, and the health emergencies guide covers wider outbreak planning.

If a result suggests you are infectious, the practical steps are the ones you would take in any outbreak: keep away from vulnerable people, ventilate rooms, and follow current public health advice for your nation. Check the latest guidance from your national health service rather than relying on this page.

Storing tests and checking expiry dates

Expiry dates are the single most important thing to check on a stored test kit. The general principle for emergency supplies is to check dates regularly and swap out anything that needs replacing. The Scottish Government's prepare-for-emergencies guidance advises regularly checking the expiry dates on first aid supplies and food⁵, and the Be Ready checklist suggests setting a reminder every six months to check expiry dates and swap out items that need replacing⁶.

That six-month rhythm is a good habit for a whole household kit, not just tests. Put a reminder in your phone for the same month each year, or twice a year, and go through the box. The Food Standards Scotland guidance on use-by and best-before dates makes a useful distinction: a use-by date is about safety, while a best-before date is about quality⁷. A test kit's expiry date is closer to a use-by date: once it has passed, do not rely on the result.

Store tests somewhere dry and away from extremes of heat. A cupboard in a living area is better than a shed, a loft or a car. If you keep a test in a car emergency kit, check it more often, because a car gets very hot in summer and very cold in winter.

Safety notices and recalls

No SureScreen-specific recall or safety notice is recorded here. That does not mean none has ever been issued; check for yourself if you are unsure about a kit. The official route for product safety alerts and recalls in the UK is the Government's product safety alerts, reports and recalls service⁸.

Product recalls are not rare, and they follow a pattern. A recent example is the recall of Søstrene Grene LED string lights, where the official notice advised customers to cease use immediately and return the product to the nearest store for a full refund or exchange⁸. The lesson for a household is to check batch numbers against official notices rather than assuming a product is fine because it is still in its box.

For a test kit, the batch or lot number is printed on the outside of the box and on the sealed pouch inside. Check that the two match. If you are comparing a kit against a notice, use the batch number, not the expiry date alone. If you are unsure, contact the supplier or SureScreen using the details on the packaging.

Support and warranty

SureScreen's customer service telephone number and warranty terms are not quoted here. The contact details for the maker are printed on the test kit packaging and on the instruction leaflet inside the box. If you no longer have the packaging, the pharmacy or testing service that supplied the kit is the next place to ask, because they hold the supplier's details.

When you contact anyone about a faulty or damaged kit, have three things ready: the batch number, the expiry date, and a description of the fault. That is the same information a retailer or maker needs to trace a batch.

On guarantees more generally, Age UK's guidance on buying telecare products makes a point that applies to any household purchase: check there is a guarantee and a returns policy in case the product does not meet your needs⁹. That is sensible advice for any kit you buy for emergency use, including tests.

Where to get help with a result

If a test result worries you, or you are unwell and unsure what to do, the first port of call is the NHS. Call 111 for advice, or 999 in a genuine emergency. Surrey County Council's road emergency guidance puts the principle plainly: if in doubt, dial 999 and ask for the police, fire service or ambulance¹⁰. For a health concern that is not an emergency, 111 is the right number.

For a test kit that seems faulty, contact the supplier or SureScreen. For a product safety concern, use the Government's product safety alerts service⁸. For wider household planning, the site's getting started guide and emergency kit guide set out what to keep ready, and the health emergencies guide covers outbreaks and medicine supplies.