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 from a non-red list country and are not fully vaccinated.
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 are arriving in England from a non-red list country and you’re not fully vaccinated, you must self-isolate for 10 days when you arrive.
You should book your test 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. You can take the test no earlier than the 5th day after your arrival in England.
For example, if you leave your non-red list destination on a Monday, Tuesday is day 1. This means you cannot take your test until day 5, which would be Saturday.
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 into the scheme on the passenger locator form. If you decide to take part in the Test to Release scheme after you have arrived in England, You will need to complete another passenger locator form. Please visit the government website for more information.
Please note the Test to Release scheme is separate from the Day 2 and Day 8 Covid testing.
Booking your Test to Release COVID-19 Swab
Test to Release Limitations
Please refer to the UK Government website here for an up to date list of countries on the ‘red list’.
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 within 48 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
Please visit the Government webpage for more information on how long you have to self-isolate.
Test to Release Covid Home Tests
We also offer Test to Release Covid tests for home delivery via our lab partner. Please follow the instructions sent with your Test to Release Covid test. Once you receive your test through the mail, you’ll need to activate it online. You will then receive a notification when you activate your Covid test, when it arrives at the lab and when you get your results. To book your home Test to Release Covid test, please use dropbox on this page.
Test to Release Covid tests are only dispatched prior to day 5 of your mandatory quarantine by our lab partners delivery service. Please note that due to current UK government regulations, Test to Release Covid tests cannot be taken earlier than day 5 of your quarantine. Due to this, the dispatch date of your Test to Release Covid test will be based on your arrival date back to the UK (the date provided when the order was placed). You will receive a dispatch notification once the test has been sent.
Return Delivery options:
- Using our lab partner’s dropbox