This (posted above) is the method I use, and it works fine.
This is a direct download of the Eicar.com test file, from
this site. You will need to pause your webshield to download it, and then disconnect from the net so as to safely pause the standard shield to move it.
Place the file as near to the beginning of the scanned area as you can, resume the shields, reconnect.
Try a "practice" scan. The Eicar - not-a-virus alert pops up within a minute on my system. once it's actioned, you can wander away, go to bed, whatever.