Where to order the cheapest lateral flow tests
LATERAL flow tests are unfortunately no longer free, after becoming familiar in the homes of millions.
The majority of people will now need to shop on the high street for paid-for tests if they want them.
Only a small number of people in England can get their hands on free home test kits as of Friday, April 1.
The rule change will also affect Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland at a later date.
The Government revealed earlier this week who is deemed most vulnerable and therefore still able to get lateral flow tests for free.
This includes NHS hospital patients and staff, care home workers and some of those at high risk of Covid because they have a medical condition.
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People will also no longer be able to get a free PCR test - the gold standard - unless they are considered high risk.
The scrapping of universal free testing comes at a time when Covid cases are still high, although coming down.
The Health Secretary insisted the move must go ahead because people need to “learn to live with Covid”.
The roadmap to normality also includes encouraging people to stay indoors for five days if they have Covid. It was previously stay indoors until you feel better.
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Dr Jenny Harries, chief of the UK Health Security Agency, said Brits have to “come to terms” with the fact Covid will spread for years.
But the second round of boosters for over-75s and vulnerable people will be critical for keeping deaths down, experts say.
Elderly Brits have been urged to get a booster as Covid cases are set to peak at record highs.
Where can you buy lateral flow tests?
If you are worried you have Covid, and have symptoms of the bug, rest assured you can still get some quick lateral flow tests.
A singular test comes at a small fee while you can also get boxes of several.
Boots - £1.97 a swab
Boots Pharmacy is offering FlowFlex lateral flow test kits online at £1.97 per swab. The cheapest option you can buy is a pack of two tests, priced at £3.95.
A box of five is £9.80, and all prices include Royal Mail delivery.
It also offers in-store testing which is suitable for those travelling abroad.
Superdrug - £1.99 a swab
Superdrug has priced a single FlowFlex test at £1.99. You can have this delivered at an extra cost, or pick it up from store within 30 minutes of ordering.
A pack of five will cost £9.79.
Lloyds - £1.89 a swab
At Lloyds pharmacy, you can buy a single FlowFlex swab for £1.89, or two for £3.75. This does not include delivery, which is free over £20.
A pack of five can be grabbed for £9.29 both in-store and online.
Medisave - 99p a swab
Medisave announced their chosen lateral flow tests, Core tests, will cost 99p per swab.
It does not sell boxes - you simply enter the quantity you would like.
Tesco - £2 a swab
Everything Genetic’s £2 kits will be stocked in over 1,500 Tesco stores across the UK.
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Chemist Click - £4.49 a swab
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Chemist Click have priced one FlowFlex swabs at £4.49. Three tests are £13.44 and five are £22.25.
Delivery is extra.
Who will continue to get free tests?
Free symptomatic testing will continue for:
- Hospital patients, where a PCR test is required for their care
- People at risk of severe Covid who are eligible for community Covid-19 treatments. This includes people with certain types of cancer, Down's syndrome, sickle cell disease, or who had an organ transplant. People in this group will be contacted directly and sent lateral flow tests to keep at home for use if they have symptoms as well as being told how to reorder tests.
- People living or working in some high-risk settings. This includes some care home and hospice staff and residents, NHS workers and prison staff. People will also be tested before being discharged from hospital into care homes, hospices, homelessness settings and domestic abuse refuges.
Free asymptomatic lateral flow testing will continue for:
- Some NHS and social care staff when there are high rates of infection in the community.
- Staff in some prisons and places of detention and in high risk domestic abuse refuges and homelessness settings.
- Some care home staff and residents during an outbreak and for care home residents upon admission.