The UK Health Security Agency has published lists of and
information about private test providers, to help you get the
private COVID-19 tests you need.
Finding and choosing a
private coronavirus (COVID-19) test provider
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List of general population COVID-19 testing
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Providers
of day 2 and day 8 COVID-19 tests for international
arrivals
https://www.gov.uk/find-travel-test-provider
List of
Test to Release providers
https://www.find-travel-test-provider.service.gov.uk/test-to-release
Details
You can get a free NHS
COVID-19 PCR test if you
have:
-
coronavirus (COVID-19)
symptoms
- been advised to take a test by a medical practitioner or a
government agency
- been in contact with someone who’s tested positive
If you’re asymptomatic (you don’t have symptoms), you
can get a free
NHS COVID-19 LFD test.
If you need a test for any other reason, you must order a test
from a private provider.
Reasons why you might want to use the services of a private
provider could include:
- for international travel – so you can enter another country,
or after entering the UK from abroad
- if you’re an elite athlete and need to be tested before
taking part in an event
- if you’re an employer who wants to partner with a provider to
offer testing to your staff
Who this guidance is for
The guidance and information on this page are for anyone who
needs to order a COVID-19 test from a private provider.
Finding and choosing a private provider
‘Finding and choosing a private COVID-19 provider’ sets out what
you should know before you look for a private provider or book a
test, including information on:
- minimum standards
- UKAS accreditation
- the provider lists we publish on GOV.UK
- what we’re doing to protect consumers
Lists of private providers on GOV.UK
The lists published on this page are of providers that have
demonstrated compliance with the government’s minimum standards
for the type of commercial COVID-19 testing service they offer.
These are:
- general population COVID-19 testing
- day 2 and day 8 travel tests
- Test to Release travel tests
The lists are not exhaustive. Some providers have decided to opt
out from being published on these lists.
If you’re arriving in Scotland, Wales, or Northern
Ireland
There are different rules. If you will be travelling on to the
Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the
Channel Islands or the Isle of Man in the 10 days after you
arrive in the UK, you must follow the rules for testing and
quarantine in those places. Find out what you need to do if
you’re:
Pre-departure travel tests (‘fit to fly’)
There is no separate list of providers offering pre-departure
travel tests (often called fit to fly tests by providers). This
is because the testing requirements are set by the country you
want to travel to, and sometimes the airline you’re flying with.
For example, some countries require PCR tests, while others
accept rapid lateral flow tests (also known as antigen tests).
Each country sets its own rules.
In practice, many providers from the general population providers
list and the day 2 and day 8 list offer pre-departure travel
tests. Make sure you know the type of pre-departure test you need
to take before you book anything.
Check entry requirements for
countries you want to travel to.
The government does not comment on commercial practices of
specific companies or cases. Neither do we endorse, recommend or
approve any private test provider. Providers on the GOV.UK list
have demonstrated compliance with the relevant minimum standards
for their commercial provision of testing. This includes applying
for and being on their journey to achieving accreditation through
the 3-stage UKAS accreditation process if they are providing
sample collection and/or test analysis services.
Guidance for providers
If you are a private provider and would like to be added to a
list, read our separate guidance for
providers.
