Has anyone done private test to release after travelling back from an Amber list country?

[Bellasblankexpression]

I’m planning on going to an Amber list country next weekend and would need to quarantine at home for ten days upon return, however I just looked at the government website and it says you can end quarantine early if you pay for a private test to release.

I just wondered if anyone has done this and how long it took for the test results to come back?

Presumably the private companies have turnaround times on their websites?

I’m struggling to tell what’s actually legit! The government link took me to a site blocked with a pop up. I’ll try again on my iPad.

I couldn’t work out if there were specific companies associated with test and trace that would need to be used and was being lazy by hoping someone on mumsnet would have done it

I’ll have to do a bit more research

Ignore me. Found the list of providers unblocked using my iPad 🙈

Yep. 5 days, got lost, managed to locate on day 5, was positive, and absolutely no way to link to passenger locator form, 119 didn't give two hoots except to harass daily to remind to self isolate, but no tracing of other people was done whatsoever. And we wonder why the Indian variant took off here.

You will have to book tests for day 2 and 8 even if you quarantine for 10 days. The day 5 test is in addition to this, if you want to end quarantine after 5 days. However, it will most likely take 24 hours to come back, meaning that you won’t be able to leave you house until day 6. Note that you must book the tests before you return to the U.K.

Day 5 test took 8 days to come back (you have to post it so they won’t have it until day 6)
Day 10 test (I was already out of quarantine) took 15.
My friend’s day 2 took longer than day 5. Apparently firms are very mixed with how long they take so read reviews too.

@BunsyGirl

You will have to book tests for day 2 and 8 even if you quarantine for 10 days. The day 5 test is in addition to this, if you want to end quarantine after 5 days. However, it will most likely take 24 hours to come back, meaning that you won’t be able to leave you house until day 6. Note that you must book the tests before you return to the U.K.

No way you will get it back on day 6. It arrived in the lab on day 6.

My friend did this, had to already have days 2 & 8 day tests booked and purchased day 5 seperately. Day 5 test came back on day 7 and he got daily phone calls until 10 day !

I got daily calls until day 5 then they stopped 🤷🏻‍♀️And yes you do need to have the tests booked before you come back.

My sister's day 5 test never came back. I'd just self isolate for the ten days, tbh

I’m booking ours with Collinson, they guarantee to have the results back by midnight if you test before 4pm, only works if you live close to one of their test sites though. We talked about it and wouldn’t bother with a postal one, by the time it’s been sent and got to the lab and been processed I’m not sure the time it’ll knock off your quarantine is worth it. You can book the day 5 test after you’ve arrived back in the UK but you need to complete another passenger locator form.

Yes to booking tests before you leave as you need the reference on your passenger locator form. I used a smaller company from the govt list and had my tests turn up on time and all results by 10pm the following day. Definitely read the reviews of the companies though as some people are waiting days for results.

Thanks this is all really really useful

My friends DH did the 5 day test. He had to travel for business. He does work in hospitals (hospital equipment for ICU) and had to travel to Germany. She told me the test cost £580! This was a little while ago though.

I paid £575 for 5 PCR tests for a three day trip. Work refunded me but it’s complete madness and daylight robbery.

@Littleone638

I’m booking ours with Collinson, they guarantee to have the results back by midnight if you test before 4pm, only works if you live close to one of their test sites though. We talked about it and wouldn’t bother with a postal one, by the time it’s been sent and got to the lab and been processed I’m not sure the time it’ll knock off your quarantine is worth it. You can book the day 5 test after you’ve arrived back in the UK but you need to complete another passenger locator form.

So if you book with collision, you actually go to the testing site ?

I did my mums and all was perfect. Released on day 6. Calls until day 3.

Thank you I’m very fortunate that my friend is going to cover the costs so that’s not something I have to worry about - agree though, it’s extortionate!

My husband did the Collinson at noon on day 5. Result was back by 8 pm that same day.

@PurrBox that’s reassuring to hear!

Yes i did Collinson too. Back same day. in person so much quicker. More expensive though.

Just be aware that if ‘anyone’ tests positive that’s on the flight on their day 2 test you will automatically become a contact of a positive case and will not be eligible for test to release (even if you’ve paid for it).

Just be aware that if ‘anyone’ tests positive that’s on the flight on their day 2 test you will automatically become a contact of a positive case and will not be eligible for test to release (even if you’ve paid for it).

Haha, if that person is actually traced. As I say, in my case the positive test was never linked to anything, no one on the flight found out. Absolute shambles.

@userchange8945

Just be aware that if ‘anyone’ tests positive that’s on the flight on their day 2 test you will automatically become a contact of a positive case and will not be eligible for test to release (even if you’ve paid for it).

Haha, if that person is actually traced. As I say, in my case the positive test was never linked to anything, no one on the flight found out. Absolute shambles.

The info normally comes from the private company you’ve booked your test with and the airline. I suppose if they don’t communicate it doesn’t work. However my boss was absolutely furious when he’d paid to test and release then couldn’t - so it does happen.

@ChristmasCovid yes that would be very frustrating. We rang the number 119 directed us to, every day for the whole period, every time "our phone line is busy" 119 couldn't/wouldn't do anything about it. The track and trace system has got to be one of (many) biggest failures of this government.

I paid to get same day results. I did it with doctap, they have lots of locations and I managed to get a discount because I'm have private health insurance through Vitality.
Did the test at mid day and got my negative result at 9:30 at night.