As there has been much media coverage of travel opening up, combined with the prime minister’s announcement on Friday, thoughts may be turning towards the opportunity of summer get-aways.

Travel is certainly going to be more complicated with the testing regimes, but we are here to help and are happy to arrange and manage all of the COVID19 testing requirements for you.

 

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TESTING

It’s worth remembering that there are 2 types of tests available that look for active infection of the COVID19 virus – a PCR test and a lateral flow test (sometimes called an antigen test). Both require a throat and nasal swab – but they test for different things.

– PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests are engineered to seek genetic material called RNA that instructs the virus to make these proteins.   They are generally done in a laboratory setting with specialised equipment and take a number of hours to process.

– Lateral Flow tests look for proteins on the surface of the virus to ascertain the presence of the COVID19.  They are a ‘Point of Care’ test which can be done in an on-site setting (e.g. home, hotel, airport) and take up to 30 mins to process.

Whilst technological advances are driving big improvements in the accuracy of lateral flow tests, the PCR test remains the gold standard, and is generally still required for travel to most countries. Note that there are some countries that will accept a Lateral Flow test (including the UK, the USA and Germany) and this is changing on a regular basis.

 

OUTWARD TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

The great majority of countries require a negative COVID19 PCR test for travel, taken anywhere between 96 and 24 hrs before arrival. This is sometimes called a ‘Fit to Fly’ certificate and will be a pdf of the laboratory results accompanied by a letter from us as the test provider.

If we have sufficient notice, we can post out the required swab packs in plenty of time for you to return by 24 hr tracked post, thus avoiding courier fees. Each swab pack includes instructions, swab and a pre-paid 24 hr tracked return envelope.

 

INWARD TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

When travel opens up again, inward requirements will be based on a traffic light system, driven by the country from which you are departing. Countries will be classified RED, AMBER & GREEN to determine the inward testing and quarantine requirements. The list is updated on a regular basis but will be formally reviewed every 3 weeks and can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england

When travelling into the UK, your day of arrival will be treated as day 0.

 

RED COUNTRIES

If you have been in a red country at any time within the 10 days prior to arriving in the UK, you will need to:

  • show a negative COVID19 test dated within 72 hrs of your flight departure. This will need to be done in the departure country and can be a PCR or Lateral Flow test.
  • quarantine for 10 days in a managed hotel. This must be booked and paid for in advance via the government website.
  • book a travel test package, which will include COVID19 tests to be taken on or before day 2 and on or after day 8 of your quarantine, along with completing a passenger locator form with details of where you will home quarantine when you arrive and the travel test package booking reference number

If you have a negative day 2 and day 8 test, you will be released from quarantine after 10 days. You will not be able to take an early release test on day 5.

 

AMBER COUNTRIES

If you have been in an amber country at any time within the 10 days prior to arriving in the UK, you will need to:

  • show a negative COVID19 test dated within 72 hrs of your flight departure. This will need to be done in the departure country and can be a PCR or Lateral Flow test.
  • quarantine for 10 days. This does not need to be in a managed hotel and can be at home.
  • book a travel test package, which will include COVID-19 tests to be taken on or before day 2 and on or after day 8 of your quarantine, along with completing a passenger locator form with details of where you will home quarantine when you arrive and the travel test package booking reference number

If you have a negative day 2 and day 8 test, you will be released from quarantine after 10 days. As an option, you can take an additional test on day 5 under the Test to Release scheme, which, if negative, will enable you to be released from quarantine as soon as you get the test result. You will still need to complete the day 8 test, even if your day 5 test is negative.

 

GREEN COUNTRIES

 

If you are returning from a green country, you will need to:

  • show a negative COVID19 test dated within 72 hrs of your flight departure. This will need to be done in the departure country and can be a PCR or Lateral Flow test.
  • Complete a passenger locator form online.
  • Take a COVID PCR test on or before day 2 of arrival.

You will not need to quarantine if your test on arrival is negative.

 

SUMMARY OF TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAVEL

 

COUNTRY OF DEPARTURE RED AMBER GREEN
 

PCR or Rapid flow antigen test within 72 hrs of departure to the UK

YES – all passengers over 11 years YES – all passengers over 11 years YES – all passengers over 11 years
Quarantine YES – all passengers in managed hotel YES – all passengers at home NO
Before Day 2 Test YES – all passengers over 5 years YES – all passengers over 5 years YES – all passengers over 5 years
Day 5 Test to Release NO Optional for all passengers NO
Day 8 Test YES – all passengers over 5 years YES – all passengers over 5 years NO

 

 

TEST COSTS

 

Our current prices for COVID19 tests are as follows:

Package Includes Member’s Price
COVID19 Single PCR Test
  • Outbound PCR & Fit to Fly Certificate
£150
COVID19 Travel A Package
  • Outbound PCR & Fit to Fly certificate
  • Mandatory Day 2 & Day 8 test pack
£350
COVID19 Travel B Package
  • Outbound PCR & Fit to Fly certificate
  • Mandatory Day 2 & Day 8 test pack
  • Day 5 early release ‘Test to Release’ PCR
£450

 

 

If you have non-members travelling with you, we are happy to also arrange tests for them if it helps you, they will be a 15% additional charge for all non-member tests. These are current prices -we continue to negotiate with the laboratory and pass on any cost reductions on an on-going basis.

 

Tests include 24hr tracked royal mail delivery back to the lab. If you require same day results, then we recommend the samples are driven to the lab. We can arrange this for you, and we have a dedicated same-day driver. We will add the cost to your invoice.

 

We will manage all the required administration and reporting and will invoice monthly in arrears in accordance with all other pathology tests. Do give us as much notice as possible – you will need travel codes for completing passenger documentation.

For more information contact us.

As the weather turns and we look towards summer, let’s all hope that the worst of the pandemic is behind us.

 

Simon Gillson                      Karl Braine