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Original poster

Lowest cost Day 2 test

273 replies

Window1 · 09/08/2021 15:07

Hi can anyone help with the lowest cost day 2 test following return to UK from France (Amber country).

I've found Randox at £43 with discount code but wasn't sure if there was anything cheaper. A lot on the gov website look like they're going to be £20 but are actually around £80.

Don't care about service or reputation as just need the code to sort the passenger location form.

What a farce this all is by the way!!

OP posts:
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shinyblackdog · 09/08/2021 15:16

I did quite a bit of work trying to improve on the Randox discount price by working through the gov.uk list but gave up in the end. Like you I didn't much care about service or reputation, but I think you do actually have to log the test result, so if it doesn't arrive you have to pay for another one - and a lot of the cheapest ones either turn out not to be cheap, as you say, or the reviews say they often don't arrive so you have to buy more.

Agree, it's a fiasco.

Original poster
Window1 · 09/08/2021 15:23

I had found day 2 Eurofins for testing at £20 but was astounded by 86% of people ranking them as bad service. How can they get away with it, it's a licence to print money! As you say, you do actually need to receive the result and the risk is buy cheap, buy twice.

OP posts:
NutellaEllaElla · 09/08/2021 15:29

Hmm I was planning on looking into this tonight. Interesting to hear what you know. It's such an opportunity for a racket isn't it.

EileenGC · 09/08/2021 15:39

I used Nationwide Pathology (NWP) at £40 and they were brilliant. That was the cheapest company with good reviews I could find.

Everything else was either too expensive, or had horrible reviews.
Some people say you're only buying the code and who cares about the actual service, but if the tests don't turn up and they actually check you've done them, you end up paying twice. Thanks but no.

Pissinthepottyplease · 09/08/2021 15:42

If you are travelling with TUI then Chromatics are only £20 for LFT and day 2 PCR test.

Original poster
Window1 · 09/08/2021 15:50

@EileenGC

I used Nationwide Pathology (NWP) at £40 and they were brilliant. That was the cheapest company with good reviews I could find.

Everything else was either too expensive, or had horrible reviews.
Some people say you're only buying the code and who cares about the actual service, but if the tests don't turn up and they actually check you've done them, you end up paying twice. Thanks but no.

Thanks I'll check them out.
OP posts:
Original poster
Window1 · 09/08/2021 15:53

NWP have 4 star service on trust pilot with over 1k reviews so thank you I'll go with them based on price and service.

OP posts:
whensmynexthol1day · 09/08/2021 16:12

How did it work with nwp? The £40 test seems to require you to sort your own courier or to come and collect? We're not massively far from Leicester but they're only open 10-2 so it's not massively convenient

EileenGC · 09/08/2021 16:59

No, the £40 test is a postal test which you can choose to be delivered/posted back with Royal Mail, so zero extra charges or trips required.

I landed Wed night, test arrived Thu lunchtime, took and posted the test Fri 4/5pm and results were back Saturday 6/7pm. You need a priority postbox but that’s all.

I too chose them based on their reviews and I was very happy with the process.

GlomOfNit · 09/08/2021 19:13

So are people ordering their Day 2 tests before they actually travel (so the home test kits would be sitting on the doorstep while away) or while they're abroad so they arrive on the doorstep about the time you get back? I thought you needed evidence of having booked a Day 2 test before you actually left the UK but now I'm confused! Grin

Thanks for the recs of NWP and the discount code for Randox. I'd hoped, like many others I imagine, to get the cheapest and then because we're double-jabbed/under 18 (and have government LFTs to do every couple of days anyway) and don't have to quarantine, it didn't really matter if the Day 2 tests took ages to come back, but I take on board the need to actually enter your Day 2 result and certainly don't want to buy twice because I booked the first lot from a shite outfit.

EileenGC · 09/08/2021 19:23

You need to have the tests booked before filling in your passenger locator form on your way back home. The PLF needs to include the booking reference number you get from the testing company.

You fill in your PLF in the 48 hours before your return flight, so you can just book them before doing that, or save yourself two hours of admin whilst on holiday and sort it before you go. Either option is valid.

You do not need to enter your Day 2 result anywhere. It doesn't matter that much whether the result comes back quickly or not, but technically, Track and Trace can contact you anytime and ask about your test results/quarantine or whatever. Most of these testing companies state clearly in their T&C's that if for any reason the test gets lost in the post, comes back inconclusive, doesn't arrive at your address, long list of etc... then it's your responsibility to book a second one.

FrancescaContini · 09/08/2021 19:27

Just going through this myself....it's a total PITA. I spent what felt like hours today trying to get my head around what I need. It's taking away the excitement of going away.

Thanks for all suggestions, I will take a look.

churchroad · 09/08/2021 19:44

The tests won’t be sitting on the doorstep. Generally they are dispatched to arrive to you around day 2 when you need to take them. When people actually needed them to release from quarantine the idea was they shouldn’t receive them earlier as it encourages people to do the test earlier than they should. Mine are all booked pre departure but I should receive them when I come Home. In any event the boxes are small!

FrancescaContini · 09/08/2021 20:25

Can anyone answer this question, please - I can't find it on the government website.

Day 2test - does it have to be a PCR test or can it be a LF antigen test? The latter seem to be cheaper...

Mumtofourandnomore · 09/08/2021 20:40

The day two test has to be a PCR test, we used Randox and they were great - I can definitely recommend them.

EileenGC · 09/08/2021 20:41

It must be PCR, and a government-approved package from one of their listed companies.

EileenGC · 09/08/2021 20:42

The test to enter the UK (up to 3 days before entry) can be PCR or antigen though.

Kassalah · 09/08/2021 22:19

Which country in the UK? If in Wales you can book a Day 2 test here: quarantinehotel.ctmportal.co.uk/quarantine/?country=Wales&vacc=Y

Kassalah · 09/08/2021 22:21

@EileenGC

The test to enter the UK (up to 3 days before entry) can be PCR or antigen though.
OP is looking for a Day 2 test (PCR).
Coogee · 09/08/2021 22:34

I used Nationwide Pathology (NWP) at £40 and they were brilliant. That was the cheapest company with good reviews I could find.

Their website is now showing Day 2 tests at £65, not £40.

nwp-online.co.uk/home/p/covid-19-day-2-pcr-testing-package-for-fully-vaccinated-travellers

TwoBlueFish · 09/08/2021 22:46

I’ve ordered Randox and have used them previously as well. We have a drop box for them 5 minutes drive away, we did the tests at 12:30 on the Saturday, and got the results back by 7am on the Sunday.

I ordered the tests about a week before I went way so they had arrived before I left.

timeforacuppa28 · 09/08/2021 22:52

@Window1 are you on holiday in France now or trying to sort before you go? We’re trying to decide whether or not to risk traveling to France in a weeks time with three kids. Not sure because of not knowing exactly what would happen if one of us tested positive while out there. Rules for entering and leaving France are so different, is all such a farce

Coogee · 09/08/2021 23:20

I’ve ordered Randox and have used them previously as well. We have a drop box for them 5 minutes drive away,

Randox has made the papers with its drop boxes today...

www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/pcr-tests-travel-randox-overflowing-drop-box-b1899400.html

FrancescaContini · 09/08/2021 23:52

Thanks - have ordered the Randox. Used discount code FLYRYANAIR and got £5 off.

I'm fervently hoping that in the near future we won't need to go through this palaver - terrible expense.

EileenGC · 10/08/2021 06:44

[quote Coogee]I used Nationwide Pathology (NWP) at £40 and they were brilliant. That was the cheapest company with good reviews I could find.

Their website is now showing Day 2 tests at £65, not £40.

nwp-online.co.uk/home/p/covid-19-day-2-pcr-testing-package-for-fully-vaccinated-travellers[/quote]
A friend just showed me that as well - outrageous! It was £40 when I last looked two days ago, because I have another trip soon I need to book them for. It’s all designed to make more and more money, isn’t it… Those who are using Randox, could you report back on how reliable the whole process ends up being?