New COVID Measures: What Do They Mean And Where To Find Cheaper PCR Tests
With testing on return to the UK becoming mandatory again, we wanted to do the legwork for you and investigate where you can find cheap PCR tests.
That’s right, just when we thought we’d waved goodbye to the onerous traffic light system and were clawing ourselves clear of the Coronavirus woods, the infection has fought back with a new variant.
The UK government has responded to reports that the new Omicron variant has arrived on these shores by increasing the nation’s COVID measures. But what are these new actions and how do they affect travel?
New measures explained
Boris Johnson announced recently that, as a result of the growing threat of new COVID variants, face masks will once again be required in shops and on public transport from 4am on 30 November.
But the new measures didn’t end there. The Prime Minister also confirmed the changes would affect the travel industry too. As of that 4am deadline on Tuesday people returning to the UK, vaccinated or not, will need to take a PCR test on or before day 2 of arrival. Lateral Flow Tests will no longer be an acceptable form of entry.
Vaccinated travellers and children aged 5 – 17 must complete a test on or before day two of their arrival in the UK. However, unvaccinated travellers must complete an additional test on day 8 too. Children under the age of 4 are still not required to test for travel.
Passengers must also self-isolate immediately until receiving a negative test result. Meaning unvaxxed passengers will have to isolate until at least after day 8 when their results are returned.
This new announcement has caused ripples of discontent within the travel industry after, yet another, brief easing of travel restrictions seems to have come to an abrupt end. But now that testing is mandatory again for entering the UK, where can you find acceptable cheap PCR tests?
Cheaper tests
Over the last 18 months, many have seen expensive PCR tests as a barrier to travel. Some would-be passengers have even reported pricey testing adding upwards of £1,000 to their overall trip cost.
So, with these fresh updates in mind, we wanted to investigate where you can get reliable, yet cheap, PCR tests.
Generally, we’re finding that, after taking into account elements like petrol etc, getting a test delivered to your home is probably the most cost-effective way to complete the checks.
The COVID Testing Network is generally a good place to start when it comes to getting more info in one place. From comparing prices to booking tests this site brings all the options together for you.
Away from that comparison site approach, though, let’s take a look at the most inexpensive options when it comes to booking your day 2 test. We’ve also included a list of cheaper package options for unvaccinated travellers looking to complete their days 2 and 8 tests – more on those shortly.
Cheapest day 2 tests
We’ve detailed below a handy guide to some of the cheapest PCR tests on the market at the moment, from reliable government-approved sources.
|
Test producer |
Cheapest test type | Cost | Results back |
| Randox | At home test – Select Click & Collect | £34.99 | By 11:59pm next day |
| Covid Travel Clinics | At home test | £35.00 | Within 24 hours of lab receiving sample |
| Eurofins | Testing station | £38.90 | 36-48hrs from time of testing on-site |
| Randox | At home test – Delivered | £48.00 | By 11:59 next day |
| Testing for all | At home test | £48.00 | Within 48 hours of lab receiving sample |
| Test ‘n’ go | At home test | £50.00 | Within 24 hours of lab receiving sample |
| Eurofins | At home test | £54.90 | Within 24 hours of lab receiving sample |
| Randox | In-clinic test | £55.00 | By 11:59pm next day |
| Test ‘n’ go | At home test – Express results | £60.00 | Within 12 hours of lab receiving sample |
| Project Screen by Prenetics | At home test | £64.00 | Within 24 hours of lab receiving sample |
| Qured | At home test | £64.00 | Within 24 hours of lab receiving sample |
| CityDoc | At home test | £65.00 | Within 48 hours of lab receiving sample |
| Express Test | Testing station | £69.00 |
By 10pm the next day |
Cheapest day 2 & 8 test packages
As we said above, unvaccinated travellers are required to complete a test on day two and day eight of their isolation. Their quarantine period can end once a negative result is returned on the back of that second test.
This double-test approach can also begin to drive the price of holidaying up. However, some companies have started to band the two tests together into packages. Below are examples of some of the cheapest suppliers of day two & eight testing kits.
| Test producer | Cheapest test type | Cost | Results back |
| Covid Travel Clinics | At home test | £60.00 | Within 24 hours of lab receiving sample |
| Randox | At home test – Click & collect | £69.98 | By 11:59pm next day |
| Eurofins | Testing station – Drive through | £79.90 | 12-36hrs from time of testing on-site |
| Testing for all | At home test | £89.00 | Within 48 hours of lab receiving sample |
| Randox | At home test – Delivered | £96.00 | By 11:59pm next day |
| Eurofins | At home test | £98.90 | No info available |
| Test ‘n’ go | At home test | £100.00 | Within 24 hours of lab receiving sample |
| Test ‘n’ go | At home test – Express results | £120.00 | Within 12 hours of lab receiving sample |
| Express Test | Testing station | £129.00 | By 10pm the next day |
| Express Test | At home test | £129.00 | Within 24 hours of lab receiving sample |
| CityDoc | At home test | £130.00 | Within 48 hours of lab receiving sample |
| Boots | At home test | £136.00 | 24-48hrs from lab receiving sample |
Conclusion
After many of us dared to dream that we’d maybe seen an end to the COVID pandemic, these latest setbacks will come as something of a pre-Christmas frustration.
However, as we can see, cheap PCR test options are coming further into view and watchdogs are pressurizing the government to do more when it comes to regulating the cost of testing. So it may be that travellers won’t have to wait much longer for even more affordable testing options.
