Recommended 2 day test providers

[Chasingsquirrels]

DP has just booked for us to go to France to stay with his parents who live there next week.
I'm looking at 2 day tests for our return - any recommendations for best/reasonable price providers?
Driving via the tunnel, so no onside provision on return, and return journey is late so Stansted airport drive through (which looked like a good option re location - Cambs) aren't open.

(Stansted too far to return to for onside test separately, just would have been a good option I'd could have done them while travelling back).

I’ve used oncologica and they’ve been easy (no need to find a drop box or worry about closing times, it’s all via Royal Mail) it’s 55£ a pop, though. DH has used before a testforall (?) and they’ve been good, a friend has used Dante labs and results were provided on day12….

The vast majority of providers who have 20£ kits on the govt website actually DON’T have 20£ kits, and they say “ah we only have those available for the first ones who book at 8am, but please have this wonderful alternative for only 69£”

I suppose peak returns for family travel is over, but I suggest you start booking the kits now, don’t leave it to the last days

If you want my opinion based on extensive research and going through the process.

You don’t need a good company or good reviews. You are literally paying for a code for the PL form. Agree some put the price up as you go through the process.

Our Randox ones were £43. I think there are companies out there a bit cheaper. Just go for the cheapest you can find. Nobody is even checking they’ve been sent off and processed. You don’t even put the code for children on the PLF. It’s all a farce.

For tests on the way out then yes use a reputable company with a fast turnaround.

What Delatron said. No one is checking whether you actually complete and send off the Day 2 tests, it's just a box ticking exercise to make sure you have the code for your PLF form to get back into the UK. We also got the Randox ones as they were among the cheapest and had no issues with the drop off bins being overflowing as reported in the news. We got the results within 48 hours.

@Delatron

If you want my opinion based on extensive research and going through the process.

You don’t need a good company or good reviews. You are literally paying for a code for the PL form. Agree some put the price up as you go through the process.

Our Randox ones were £43. I think there are companies out there a bit cheaper. Just go for the cheapest you can find. Nobody is even checking they’ve been sent off and processed. You don’t even put the code for children on the PLF. It’s all a farce.

For tests on the way out then yes use a reputable company with a fast turnaround.

100% this. You need to code to be able to submit your form. That's it really. We flew back from France at the weekend and my DPs drove back last week - not a single person looked at any of our documents at any point.

We used Randox @£43. No problems, just have to take to a local drop box.

Nationwide Pathology (NWP). Booked tests three days before we returned and despite a weekend and bank holiday in between, they were there when we returned home. £40 per person.

I came on to say nationwide too. They were waiting for us when we got home, posted them on Saturday and had the results at 15:30 on Monday. I suspect it would have been quicker if there hadn't been a Sunday in between.

We've used Nationwide Pathology twice. When I went on their website last night the Day 2 tests were sold out but they were back in stock this morning. The tests are £40 each.

Nationwide Pathology are the cheapest at £40. Their service was also quite good. I ordered one week before returning and the test was through my letter box when I got back. Posted the test Friday morning and received the result Saturday evening. I emailed them a query and they replied back within 2 hours.

Thanks everyone.

Yes, I was aware that it's just a case of paying for the codes and the "service" is broadly irrelevant - I was really asking for the cheapest people have found 🙂.

Agreed that the £20 stated on the Gov website is misleading, hence my post and piggybacking on other people having ploughed through the lists.

Looks like Nationwide & Randox are the ones to look at.

Don't need tests to travel out there (as far as I can work out, I'm pretty sure that's correct) as France don't (atm!) require it for double-vax'd.

Will need a pre-return test while over there, but that seems to be a case of going to the local provider and there are 3 in the nearby small town.

We didn't need a test to go to France. It was very easy to get a pre-return test there too and very quick/efficient (for an Antigen test, there seem to be less facilities for a PCR test). Our antigen tests at the pharmacy were 25 euros each.

Thanks mynameiscalypso, that was my understanding.