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Original poster

Cheapest Day 2 PCR test for return to UK?

43 replies

gg321 · 26/09/2021 17:17

Any recommendations? Ideally one to be sent back via Royal Mail rather than a drop off box. Also do they have to be government verified or anything like that? Thanks

OP posts:

WhatsitWiggle · 26/09/2021 17:20

We used Randox, friends used Collinson. You do have to use a government approved one because you have to enter the booking reference into the passenger locator form.

Original poster

gg321 · 26/09/2021 17:36

See it’s £43 for a randox day 2 test, do you need to pay to return it?

OP posts:

MagicMatilda · 26/09/2021 17:56

The Randox ones have to go to a special drop off box not a Royal Mail post box. Our nearest one was half an hour away.

Some airlines offer discount codes for them. We got £5 off each test with easyJet

morefrizzthanease · 26/09/2021 19:31

testingforall.org
They are a not fit profit organisation and are government approved
I think around £50 fir a return day 2 test

mercimacherie · 26/09/2021 20:56

Has anyone used the Eurofins drive through Day 2 tests and not bothered doing the test?

They're only £20 so I'm tempted, but our nearest drive through testing place is over 3 hours away so we definitely wouldn't want to have to do it.

Calgoose · 28/09/2021 16:05

Expert Medicals. Pay no attention to the fact they’re not on the “approved” list - it makes no difference. Website can be a little buggy but keep trying and you should be able to order for £28 (returned yesterday with an expert Medicals reference on my PLF with no issues btw)

Janek · 28/09/2021 17:03

Nationwide are £40 and you can use a normal postbox.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 28/09/2021 17:12

Where do you live? If anywhere near Warrington or Livingstone you can do a Eurofins drive through for £20.

Cheermonger · 28/09/2021 17:30

Nationwide Pathology are £40

superstar84 · 03/10/2021 17:15

I can't find the £40 national pathway ones unless we drive to Leicester?

A lot of news site are saying the lateral flow tests are to be announced on Thursday

We fly on the 14th and back 2 weeks later so I think we'll wait to book as we need 4 tests

mercimacherie · 04/10/2021 10:38

Has anyone ordered the Eurofins day 2 drive thru test and not bothered doing the test?

breadwidow · 04/10/2021 21:23

Expert medicals have been removed due to complaints - anyone had a good experience?

whoamitojudge · 07/10/2021 21:14

Following this thread as due to fly back from Greece on the 25 so wondering if we still have to have PCR’s as I don’t want to leave it too late to order one?

Turkishangora · 07/10/2021 21:19

Just done randox, not able to fill in the form without a booking number for an approved test. Had to use a drop off point though but nearest was less than 15 minutes drive away. Good luck the whole testing, form filling palaver has put me off going anywhere until it's all calmed down... Right faff!

mercimacherie · 08/10/2021 15:55

We used Express Medical for 2 day tests, at £28 they were the cheapest we could find. We returned today and only ordered the tests and completed the PLF forms on Wednesday.

We were travelling with our children (aged over 5 and under 16) who are also supposed to do the 2 day tests. When I completed the PLF it instructed you to add any children travelling with you, but does not ask for their test ref number and there is nowhere on the form you can add it.

We decided to just order the 2 tests for myself and my DH. We thought it it was flagged up at the airport we'd just order 2 more. We're now home and it has not been flagged up. Our tests arrived at lunchtime, we'll do them and return but tbh I'm not bothered if we get the results back. We've all done lateral flows which are neg and I'll do them again on Sunday.

mercimacherie · 08/10/2021 15:59

Sorry, rambled a bit there. Meant to say that my view is you are really paying for a code for the form, the test itself is irrelevant. I was dubious using Express Medical with all the bad reviews but I had the ref code within minutes of paying and the test had been delivered by DPD.

Should add I'm not advising to not order the kids' 2 day tests but we haven't and no one has checked (so far).

franke · 08/10/2021 16:17

I've just ordered Eurofins drive through for next week. It's a small detour for us but at £20 🤷🏻‍♀️. I note what people are saying about not getting a test for kids. I was tempted but I'm too much of a goody goody.

mercimacherie · 08/10/2021 16:56

We were going to use Eurofins but as we're over 3 hours from either drive thru I was worried it would be obvious we had no intention of actually going for the test. Having now experienced just how little the form is checked I would use them.

I actually think you'd even get away with making up a test ref on the Locator Form, I wouldn't risk it, but bet some people have.

CharlotteRose90 · 08/10/2021 17:33

Order whichever you want I’ve just returned from Malta to Manchester and wasn’t asked for my plf in any airport or test reference . Could have saved the money I spent on the test. Waste of time and money

superstar84 · 08/10/2021 17:36

Expert medical have been taken off the government approved list so I would use them now 😞

mercimacherie · 08/10/2021 17:50

@superstar84
We have just used Express Medical with no issues so far, tbh I didn't care if the test turned up I just wanted the code for the PLF.

As @CharlotteRose90 said, the 2 day tests are a complete waste of time and money. Our forms were barely checked, QR was not scanned and the airport staff would have no clue if the test ref on the form is genuine. We've not booked tests for our daughters and so far no one has realised.

NCTDN · 08/10/2021 19:27

Why can you say eurofins and not do it?

franke · 08/10/2021 19:27

I thought the plf was uploaded somewhere centrally so not checked at the border. Is that not the case?

mercimacherie · 08/10/2021 22:19

@franke you complete the plf on the gov website, we then attached ours to our flight booking with the other docs (vac cert etc.) but the airport staff barely looked at it. I suppose the form could be checked by gov uk admin, but I really don't think they are being.

CharlotteRose90 · 08/10/2021 22:24

@franke

I thought the plf was uploaded somewhere centrally so not checked at the border. Is that not the case?

I’m airline staff and it’s not uploaded anywhere unless you create a profile. I filled in the form and got the QR sent to me by email. Like I said it wasn’t checked on my return once and I wasn’t asked if I was vaccinated either. We check them in the uk but coming back they don’t.

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