Where to Get COVID-19 Tests in the UK and What They Cost

For a period during the pandemic, lateral flow tests arrived through the letterbox in boxes of seven and could be collected from a pharmacy for nothing. That scheme ended for the general public, though a fair amount of confusion has outlived it. People still ask where the free tests went, whether a GP can order one and whether testing is worth doing at all now. This is a practical guide to where things stand.

Free testing for the general public has ended

Universal free testing in England ended in spring 2022, with the devolved nations winding down their equivalent schemes on their own timetables. Anyone in the general population who wants to test now buys the test themselves. There is no route to request a free box for ordinary household use, while services that appear to offer one are usually either out of date or trying to collect your details for something else.

Who can still get free tests

A limited number of groups remain eligible, though the details vary between England, Scotland, Wales as well as Northern Ireland, changing between seasons too. Broadly, free testing continues to be available in circumstances where the result changes clinical management: people who are eligible for COVID-19 antiviral treatments because they are at higher risk from the virus, patients being admitted to hospital where testing forms part of care, plus people living or working in some care settings under local policy. If you fall into a higher-risk group, the sensible move is to establish in advance how you would get a test quickly, since antivirals need to be started early to be useful. Our guides to antiviral treatments and guidance for immunocompromised people cover that in more depth. The current eligibility rules are on the NHS testing page.

What tests cost to buy

Lateral flow tests are sold in pharmacies, supermarkets and online. Prices move around, but a single test typically costs a couple of pounds and multipacks bring the per-test price down. Buying a box to keep at home is generally cheaper than hunting for one on the day you feel unwell, which is when availability on a local shelf is least predictable. PCR testing is available privately at considerably higher cost, mainly through travel clinics and private labs. For everyday purposes a PCR is rarely worth paying for, since it will not change what you are advised to do.

Making sure a test is legitimate

Any self-test sold in the UK should carry a CE or UKCA mark and be intended for self-testing rather than professional use, with instructions in English. Check the expiry date, which is easy to overlook on a box that has been sitting in a stockroom. Be cautious with unusually cheap listings from unfamiliar online sellers, since counterfeit and expired kits have circulated. A test bought from a pharmacy or a mainstream retailer avoids most of this problem for a very small price difference.

Storage and expiry

Test kits have a shelf life and a stated storage temperature range. A box that has spent two winters in a cold garage or a summer in a car may not perform as intended. Some manufacturers extended expiry dates after further stability data, so a date printed on an older box is not always the final word, though tracking that down is rarely worth the effort. If a test has been stored somewhere cold, letting it come up to room temperature before use is part of the standard instructions rather than an optional refinement.

How to take the test properly

Technique affects the result more than most people expect. Follow the instructions in the box rather than the ones you remember from 2021, since swab sites differ between products: some are throat then nose, some are nose only. Swabbing too gently is the most common mistake, because a sample that collects very little material can read negative on someone who is genuinely infected. Read the result inside the time window printed on the instructions, since a faint line appearing an hour later does not count. Any visible second line, however faint, counts as positive during that window.

When testing is actually useful

Testing has value when the result would change something. That is clearest if you are eligible for antivirals, since treatment depends on confirming infection quickly. It also matters if you are about to visit someone vulnerable, if your workplace has a policy that depends on the result, or if you need to distinguish COVID-19 from something else being treated differently. If you are a healthy adult who is going to stay home and rest regardless of the answer, a test satisfies curiosity more than it changes your plan. Our comparison of PCR and lateral flow tests covers what each type is good for.

Reading a negative result properly

A negative lateral flow test is weaker evidence than most people assume, particularly early in an illness when viral levels are still low. Testing again after a day or two is more informative than treating a single negative as proof. Plenty of people with clear symptoms test negative, for reasons covered in our piece on testing negative while symptomatic. A negative result also does not identify what you do have, since flu or another respiratory infection can produce a very similar first few days.

Testing for travel

Requirements are set by the destination country and change without much notice. Where testing is still required for entry, it usually has to be a certificated test from a provider that issues documentation, which a home test cannot do. Check the destination rules close to departure rather than relying on what was true last year. See our travel rules guide for the general picture.

A quick recap

Free testing for the general public in the UK ended in 2022. Limited free testing continues for people whose care depends on the result, particularly those eligible for antivirals. Everyone else buys tests, typically a couple of pounds each. Most people are better off keeping a box at home than searching for one on the day. Test when the answer would change what you do, treat a single negative early in an illness with caution, then check destination rules separately for travel.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still order free lateral flow tests online?

Not as a member of the general public. The universal ordering service closed, so free testing is now limited to specific clinical circumstances.

How much does a lateral flow test cost?

Prices vary by retailer, though a single test is typically around a couple of pounds, with multipacks cheaper per test.

Will my GP give me a COVID-19 test?

General practices do not hand out tests for routine use. If you are eligible for antiviral treatment there is a defined route to get tested quickly, which is worth checking before you need it.

Are expired tests safe to use?

They are not unsafe, but their accuracy is no longer guaranteed, so a negative from an expired kit deserves less weight than a fresh one.

Is a PCR test worth paying for privately?

Usually not, unless you need certificated documentation for travel or a specific clinical reason. It rarely changes what you are advised to do.

Do I need to report a positive result to anyone?

There is no general public reporting route any more. If you are under care for a condition that raises your risk, tell the team looking after you rather than a national service.