Covid tests for France - antigen or PCR? A question

[bloodyunicorns]

How do the antigen ones work? You collect them from the pharmacy, do them at home then get an email response within 30 mins - but how does the test result get to the lab to be emailed???

Can anyone recommend a provider? We're in Milton Keynes.

Only over 18s need a booster to be fully vaccinated. If under 18 then 2 vaccines are sufficient

Was that a PCR?
LFTs are cheaper than that

@bloodyunicorns I’m on a very useful covid travel group on FB, and the provider they recommend (and can help facilitate if any problems) is living care. It’s currently £2.70 plus postage for an unsupervised lateral flow.

Living care antigen test

Yes it was a PCR they wanted. But as I say we were in both countries so might have been Italy wanted the PCR.

I went in June and used an unsupervised antigen text from ExpressTest which was £15.
You upload a picture of the result and they email you the fit to fly letter.

There isn't currently an expiry date on the booster, the nine month thing is for people who are unboostered.

Italy no longer need proof of vaccine or a test for entry

But I need either a PCR or an antigen test, not an LFT...

Sorry, I was getting confused by the 9 months after second jab thing, not booster. Mea culpa.

It was Easter we were there, legally we required the vaccine certs and the PCR for DS but nobody looked at any of it.

@bloodyunicorns antigen test is a lateral flow. Needs to be a max of 48 hours before leaving UK for France.

@bloodyunicorns you register your details and book a test; they send you a sealed packet containing the lateral flow (which is identical to some of the NHS ones). You do the test and take a photo of it placed with your passport on their submission form. Get a certificate emailed to you shortly afterwards.

they also do supervised/ video tests for any countries that require them (we did this for USA at Easter).

For anyone travelling, I’d recommend the “covid 19 travel test help and advice” group on FB. They have a pinned post at the top with up to date guidelines for all major destinations, and are v helpful at answering queries.

So can I quickly ask, if you are fully vaccinated do you just need your nhs covid passport to enter France? Do you need any type of PLF?

As long as you've had 3 jabs if you're over 18, you don't need to test

It’s so easy to fake the test due to it being unsupervised that I wonder why countries are bothering?!

@Loopyanna no form needed. In theory you need proof of vaccination but I've been there twice in the last month and nobody asked for it.

Sorry...just want to clarify....
15 Yr old double vaxxed but no booster will need to test with one of these services?

No
Under 18s don't need a booster to count as fully vaccinated

Thanks @dementedpixie
But will they need to use the testing service or is that just for over 18s?

No.

Over 18s - triple jabbed = no test
12-18 - double jabbed = no test.

You need to download the nhs app onto their phones though and it can take up to 7 days for the additional security checks to come through (you need to upload photo ID and scan your face).

@GnarlyOldGoatDude - brilliant, thank you! Why are their tests so much cheaper than others?!

@bloodyunicorns no idea…maybe sheer volume as they are recommended on that group as the preferred supplier, and that group is huge! Do join it, as the admin can answer any questions, and can also contact the company directly to smooth out any issues if necessary.

@bloodyunicorns we used Chronomics (ordered through TUI)
They were £15 each for LFT/Antigen. Arrived s few days before our departure
The day before leaving we registered them, did the test, uploaded it and had the certificate back within 15 mins.

All quite straight forward but does cause some anxiety as you don't know your definitely going until the day before!

Brill. Thanks, all. Have ordered those Living Care tests and joined the FB group you recommended, @GnarlyOldGoatDude :)