PCR within 2 days of arrival in UK from Australia

[ajandjjmum]

Does anyone know how this works please?

DS is due (everything crossed) to fly back to the UK landing first thing on Friday morning. He's double jabbed and will have had a PCR negative (again, everything crossed!) before he boards the plane.

Obviously with the (understandable) new rules he will have to get a PCR test within the first two days. Is he allowed to have it on Day 1, at a test facility where he'll get the result on the same day? Want to do the right thing, but would also like to salvage just one day of our 'welcome home' weekend - although in the overall scheme of things as long as he gets home, nothing else matters!

Thanks for any advice/experience.

He can order it to arrive at your home and take it at home. You would need to check there is a drop off point near your home though that you can get to.

It's possible Heathrow will be opening up a PCR testing facility for arrivals (currently LFT only) which will be really useful for many.

Yes, he can take it at any point between landing and 2 days post landing.
Not an NHS one, but I think all the travel ones (ie paid for) are fair game.
He'll need to book it before he travels.

So if he took it on the day he arrived and the result came through that same day, he wouldn't have to isolate any longer - even if it was only 24 hours after he returned?

Thank you.

Yes, although to be honest it's a long bloody flight. He probably isn't going to have the energy to party for a day or so.

No partying required - just a hug from the 'oldies'!!

You might want to factor in an increase in waiting time for results. The new rule is going to cause a massive increase in testing so result times might get longer and longer due to demand

Yes, he can test on day 0 - ie the day he lands.

Thanks for this thread. My brother in laws sister is flying in next month, so was wondering how it works.

Do factor in that results can take up to 48hours to come through. And as the poster above mentions, demand is about to get high.

You can get a guaranteed same day results test at most major airports. Take your test as soon as you land, then by the time you’ve got home, unpacked and got some sleep the results will be ready. Costs a bit more, but well worth it.

Are the testing centres at the airports walk in or do they need booking? How do you book them (assuming you still need the code for the passenger locator form?). A total pain as we had antigen tests booked for a Tuesday arrival and now we’re having to scrabble around to find a PCR test so we can get a new code to put on the form.

Are you not hugging due to the rules or due to the risk of catching coronavirus? A lateral flow (as well as PCR) should reassure you about whether he is carrying coronavirus before a quick hug. If you are picking him up at the airport I imagine the ride home would be more likely to expose you.

I presume the OP
Meant that he just wanted a hug from his parents!

He can take the rapid result PCR test at the airport after he lands. I have a trip to the States next week and that's what I will do on my way back.

I have booked at Heathrow on Thursday an hour after I land. The appointments went quick (hence having to wait an hour). Results should be back by evening of the next day, hoping to just do one day isolation!

Depending on where he is flying into and how much he wants to spend he may be able to get one at the airport with a quick turn around

@Cattitudes

Are you not hugging due to the rules or due to the risk of catching coronavirus? A lateral flow (as well as PCR) should reassure you about whether he is carrying coronavirus before a quick hug. If you are picking him up at the airport I imagine the ride home would be more likely to expose you.

DH and I will collect him and are happy to drive him home and isolate with him until his results come through. But he has 3 'honorary' GPs (who don't actually know that he's coming home yet) who are going to need a hug - they have all been boosted, but we still need to be cautious of their health.

I think we will book a test at a centre, and pay the extra for the same day result. Just need his OK to book this (wake up DS!!!), and hope there are still some slots left.

Thank you everyone for your input - I was feeling pretty thick!

Thanks for this thread OP!

Stupid question - I'm trying to work out if you need to do anything with the result? Are you supposed to get some kind of certificate which you upload somewhere to prove you're negative?

At the moment there's only "fit to fly" pcr testing being advertised at Gatwick - obviously they haven't updated website yet - does anyone know if that would also be fine for arrivals pcr now?

Haven't been abroad since the pandemic so haven't done a private pcr & have absolutely no clue how any of this works so help gratefully received!! (Brilliant timing for first overseas trip obviously 🙄)

Heathrow T5 arrivals released lots of appointments this am. I think it has to be a specific day 2 test (they are calling it 0-2 test for fully vaccinated arrivals at Heathrow centre) as you need the code for your UK locator form.

I have booked with express test, they may have a Gatwick centre?

You are just waiting for the (hopefully) negative result to come through for freedom, no need to do anything else with it.

Can I ask which companies people use for these tests?

Haven't been abroad since the pandemic so haven't done a private pcr & have absolutely no clue how any of this works so help gratefully received!! (Brilliant timing for first overseas trip obviously 🙄)

I have. It’s pretty straightforward. Either book a walk in test at your arrival airport (expensive) or get one sent to your home and take the test when you get back. If doing post, check where your nearest priority postbox is. In my case, it was just the normal postbox in my village

I waited to to book home tests until a few days before my intended return as the rules change so fast, I didn’t want to waste any money.

The cost of private tests varies widely, so best to shop around. I used NWP.

Yes, if ok to isolate for a few days then do a postal one. I want to try as hard as possible to be released within 24 hours. It wasn't that much more expensive though...

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@Underparmummy @etulosba thank you so much, really helpful

I booked a test for DS with Midland Health on the morning he returns to the UK. Expensive, but we wanted the same day result, which means having it done at a test centre. Be worth it to get him home!