COVID-19 Test to Release for International Travel
We are a Government-accredited provider for the Test to Release for International Travel scheme which has been brought in to give patients the option to reduce the length of their self-isolation when they arrive in England.
Under this scheme, you have the opportunity to order a private coronavirus test and if your result is negative you can stop self-isolating. If you have been somewhere that is not currently on the travel corridors list, you must self-isolate for 10 days when you arrive in England.
The earliest you can book your test is 5 full days after you left your destination. For example, if you leave your destination on a Monday, Tuesday is day 1. This means you cannot take your test until day 5, which would be Saturday. See Understanding Self-Isolation Timelines below.
The COVID test to release scheme is entirely voluntary and applies to those travelling into England only. As this is a private coronavirus test, you will have to pay for this test.
Your test should be booked before you travel to England. This is so you can enter details of the test when you opt in to the scheme on the passenger locator form.
Please note those travelling from Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Eswatini, French Guiana, Guyana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores), Seychelles, South Africa, Suriname, Uruguay are not eligible for Test to Release and must complete 10 days of isolation when returning to England along with members of their immediate household.
Booking your Test to Release COVID-19 Swab
You can book to have the test done at our Chelsea or Birmingham clinic. Please note calendars show live availability. If the slots are blanked out it means we’re fully booked.
| COVID-19 PCR Swab Test | Price |
|
PCR Swab (Home Test) |
£189 inc. postage |
| PCR Swab in Clinic (Chelsea) | £214 inc. appointment |
| PCR Swab in Clinic (Birmingham) | £214 inc. appointment |
Test to Release Limitations
Please note that arrival from some countries are not eligible to use Test to Release to shorten their self-isolation period and will be required to self-isolate for the full duration.
From 23rd December 2020 arrivals from South Africa cannot use Test to Release*.
From 9th January arrivals from the following countries cannot use Test to Release: Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique, Angola, Mauritius and Seychelles*.
*Correct on 08/01/20.
Results and Turnaround Times
Turnaround times for results are all calculated from the moment the same is received by our UKAS-accredited partner lab.
Most COVID PCR swab tests have results turnaround in 48-72 hours from receipt of the sample.
To see full information about results please go to the FAQs section on our main COVID-19 testing page.
Understanding self-isolation timelines
The below graphic provided by the Government webpage shows how long you have to self-isolate for:
