Day 2 Antigen Lateral Flow Test LFD + Passenger Locator Code

FAQ

Covid-19: Cheaper Rapid Antigen Lateral Flow Tests to Start on 24 October

Do I still need to test if I am fully vaccinated? 

 Yes, all travelers must take a day 2 test, even if they have been vaccinated. But there are additional requirements for unvaccinated travelers, as we introduce below.

What about if I’m unvaccinated? 

Travelers who are over eighteen years old and aren’t fully vaccinated are required to self-isolate for ten days upon arrival into the United Kingdom. What’s more, you will need to take the following tests: 

• PCR or antigen test three days before you travel to the UK

• Test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8 on your return

• Test and release is also an option if you want to shorten your quarantine

What is the passenger locator form? 

Before arriving in the UK, all travelers are required to complete a government-issued passenger locator form. This should be done within 48 hours of your arrival, and there are no costs associated with the form. You will be required to show the form to your airline before you board. 

How do I get my Covid-19 test result? 

When you have ordered and received your lateral flow test from a private testing clinic, you should follow the instructions to complete the test at home. Your test results will then appear within thirty minutes of your test, and you should then submit your result online. 

Can I take the test at home, or do I have to visit a clinic? 

The government requires travelers to take a lateral flow test on day 2 of their return, so it’s up to you whether you visit a clinic or do it at home. But remember, you cannot use the NHS service for Covid-19 travel testing, so you will have to contact a government-approved UK Covid-19 testing facility to order and arrange your test. 

Are the rules on Covid-19 testing the same for the whole of the UK?

Travel policy in the United Kingdom is devolved, so each government has the final decision upon whether to adopt the new changes. Previously, both Scotland and Northern Ireland have aligned with a central policy on Covid-19 testing. But Wales has criticised the move to replace PCR testing, which they describe as ‘the gold standard of Covid testing. So be sure to check the GOV.UK website for up-to-date testing requirements for each region of the UK.

Schedule Your Covid-19 Travel Test Today.

At PExpo Diagnostics, we offer a comprehensive range of Covid-19 testing for travelers returning to the UK. You can either book an in-clinic or postal test via our website, and we provide you with all the necessary equipment and instructions to ensure you are compliant with the latest UK government guidelines in relation to Covid-19 testing.  

For instance, our Antigen Test + Fit to Fly Home Kits are aligned with the latest government changes that will come into effect on 24 October. If you have any questions at all regarding the latest Covid-19 testing guidance or would like to speak to one of our medical professionals.

Anyone who has traveled from the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic has been required to take several Covid-19 tests, before, sometimes during, and then again upon returning to the country. Until now, these tests have been predominantly polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, but the government recently announced that this is all to change in the very near future. 

Day 2 Lateral Flow Tests Are Replacing PCR tests.

As the world continues to open up for international travel, the UK government has announced changes to the testing requirements for people entering the country. From 24 October, fully vaccinated travelers will no longer be required to take a PCR test. Instead, they will be required to take a lateral flow test on day 2. 

This essentially cuts the cost of testing in half, as reported by the BBC, and makes life easier for people returning from their holidays or business trips. The tests need to be booked before entry into the UK, and they must be purchased directly from private providers. The NHS service cannot be used for travel testing.

From home, travelers are then required to upload photos of their Covid-19 tests for verification and will still be required to complete the necessary passenger locator forms. 

The Covid-19 Testing Changes Align with the Relaxation of International Travel.

The past month or so has seen the government make substantial changes to the rules on international travel, which almost everyone highly welcomes. In September, it was announced that the controversial amber list would be scrapped, making it easier for people to understand their testing requirements and travel restrictions. 

Then in October, the red list was slashed to just nine countries, all but opening the world back up to UK travelers. It’s little surprise, then, that in a bid to get the country’s travel industry moving again, the above changes to testing have been introduced to make everyone’s life a little easier. 

While things are now much easier to understand, we appreciate that you still probably have an array of unanswered questions about Covid-19 travel testing. So, to help you out, we’ve put together this helpful list of Covid-19 Travel Testing FAQs.

But please remember that Covid-19 guidelines often change with very little notice, so always double-check the latest requirements before you book your travel. 

FAQs: Covid-19 Travel Testing [October 2021]

What Covid-19 test do I need when I come back from a non-red-list country? 

From 24 October, fully vaccinated passengers returning from non-red-list countries will be required to complete a private Covid-19 lateral flow test on day 2 of their return. The results should then be uploaded for verification to the designated UK government portal.