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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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PeppermintMocha · 15/08/2021 22:13

I'm trying to find that out for the country I want to go to.

I think to be on the safe side, I should probably book one that is done by someone else, either at Boots or maybe Stansted. Shame, as the Randox one is cheaper and there's a drop box right round the corner from me.

the flights won't be full at all as entry into the country is quite restricted and not really a holiday destination at the moment, so I definitely have to get a proper test.

Coming back might be less of a worry if the UK government definitely accept self-test lateral flows, but I need to check that somewhere official.

EasterIssland · 15/08/2021 22:18

Where are you flying to @PeppermintGum in case it’s the same one as me. If it’s a country with currently an active volcano in the north of the Uk … then they don’t accept it.

PeppermintMocha · 15/08/2021 22:41

No, long haul.

I think I'm going to go to Stansted or Boots for the pre-departure one to make sure it's supervised. It definitely has to be a PCR, but I can't tell if it has to be done by a clinician or if a home kit PCR is allowed.

But it's the lateral flow for the return to the UK that I'm not sure about now either. I dno't know if I have to book one with a remote video option so that they see you doing it, or if one that you totally do yourself is fine for UK entry. All the websites from the government just say 'lateral flow' is fine; the various companies offer remote supervised ones, or just normal ones, and they say that they're valid for re-entry, but of course they would!!

EasterIssland · 15/08/2021 22:50

C19 saudita aproved for traveling to the uk so I’d presume no need to be supervised

EasterIssland · 15/08/2021 22:50

*Says it’s

PeppermintMocha · 15/08/2021 22:56

yes I was reading that. I also read that quite a lot of companies are saying that they're approved, when they aren't necessarily Shock - they've just applied for approval or something. But surely enough people have used them by now that it must be OK.

PeppermintMocha · 15/08/2021 22:57

c19 was the cheapest for the return to the UK test.

Janek · 16/08/2021 08:55

@EasterIssland

I’ve just seen that for the country I wanna go

Any kind of self-tests (PCR, antigen or LAMP) are not accepted.

So I take I can’t use c19 for flying out

You've worried me now - we are going to France on Saturday and I was planning on my DDs taking at-home antigen tests from Chronomics. How would I find out if this is acceptable? I've just googled it and can't find the info!
EasterIssland · 16/08/2021 09:29

@janek c19testing says France accepts them so not sure
however I'd do more investigation, not sure whether there will be any info here www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/coronavirus-advice-for-foreign-nationals-in-france/

Janek · 16/08/2021 09:34

Thank you so much @easterissland I will look at c19 and that link. I have found local(ish) in person testing, but it says results back in 24 hours which is not much use if I need to take the test within 24h of departing!

Janek · 16/08/2021 09:50

Right, I've had a look at the c19 website, it is really unclear, but it links to a European Health Security Committee document where I found this

Lowest cost Day 2 test
EileenGC · 16/08/2021 09:53

I believe that’s the case across Europe. Because like I said, self-tests aren’t recognised domestically in the EU, even for going to a restaurant, so there’s no way they will accept them for travel. The standards will be higher than they are nationally, if anything.

Janek · 16/08/2021 09:56

"Rapid antigen self-tests are not included". I doubt you could tell from the certificate if it was a self-test or not, but I don't think i'll risk it, and we can use the chronomics tests for our pre-return to the UK tests.

Janek · 16/08/2021 09:59

It makes sense @EileenGC it had just never occurred to me that it could be a problem until today. I just downloaded a sample certificate from c-19 though, and there is no mention of who administered the test...

I will do the right thing though, as I have done throughout this (to the best of my knowledge!).

EasterIssland · 16/08/2021 10:04

@janek this is what my document from qured says. ii've seen the c19 one and it doesnt mention who performed it (despite it's less secure than the cured one as nobody supervises it whilst doing it) (I can see you said the same in another comment :))

Just cant understand how these companies are making money then with the fit to fly (for example chronomiics is sold by tui which flies to spain etc) if the countries don't accept them

Lowest cost Day 2 test
EasterIssland · 16/08/2021 10:07

I chopped it but before the signature it says "overseen by lured medical team"

Janek · 16/08/2021 10:14

The language is very disingenous, I think. "The tests are approved by the european union" - true, but not if they're self-administered. "approved by France" - but for travel back to the UK!!!

If i hadn't seen the bit i screen-shotted upthread I would have believed I was fine. and ironically i probably would have been. I really appreciate your help with this @EasterIssland - I am in the process of booking antigen tests at Birmingham airport (and coming to terms with the fact that there is no way of parking for cheaper than £6!). It's actually only £7 more expensive than the Chronomics tests (+£6 for parking...).

EasterIssland · 16/08/2021 10:18

yeah im in the same case, I just dont understand how they're being approved for France if France says It doesnt accept them!
the most annoying thing is that the country I'm traveling to next week I'm sure wont even check the test, a friend flew there last week and she said they didnt want to see her paper (despite it's compulsory for flying there), the person in check in at the airport told her literally "depending on the day we check that you've the test or we dont" WTF!

so I'm going to spend around 20 + 5 (parking) more just for the sake that I follow the rules.

For flying back I think I'll just go with c19

Lysianthus · 19/08/2021 22:27

Thank you everyone, placemarking as I’m going to Portugal end of the month. Hedging slightly in case rules change Again next week!

EasterIssland · 19/08/2021 23:07

Ordered c19 for returning from my holidays. Ordered last night at 7pm (cut for delivery was at 8) and this morning at 10 it was at my door! Hope the rest of the systems is as good.

Also ordered the flying out at my local airport as the country I fly to doesn’t accept self tests. Only the pcr2 need to be booked which I’ll once I’m on holiday. With nwp If still is £40

EasterIssland · 22/08/2021 22:10

Nwp has gone up to 65 again.

Oblomov21 · 23/08/2021 19:07

Watching. Keep being offered cheap antigen tests, but then you click on it and it doubles in price.

Oblomov21 · 23/08/2021 19:09

I'm going to Slovenia (green) with BA.

then Portugal (now amber again Angry) with Ryanair.

Oblomov21 · 23/08/2021 19:11

Wish I was going Tui, because cost only £20!

greywell · 23/08/2021 20:19

DD has just ordered C19 testing for entry too Greece- she's unvaccinated. Does anyone know if they are approved? They mention Greece on the website, so hoping so!