Expert Medicals removed from UK approved covid test list – is your cheap test worthless?

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• Pete M says:

  3 Sep3 September 13:10

  “The purchase reference number you give on your Passenger Locator Form does seem to be checked against a list of issued numbers.”

  What are you basing that on, Rob? From experience the PLF simply checks it’s vaguely the right format…

  • Rob says:

    3 Sep3 September 13:14

    From what I’ve read, it does appear to be checked. Whether that is from a list or just against a format, who knows? For example, the last number on your credit card is a check digit which validates the rest of the numbers. This means 90% of incorrect credit card numbers are spotted at the point they are typed in before any sort of external validation is done. It would be very easy for test numbers to be issued like this.

    • Pete M says:

      3 Sep3 September 13:18

      I am fairly certain it’s checked against a format and not against live databases of sold tests – can you see the Home Office PLF system linking up with dozens/hundreds of disparate websites and sales systems to perform the checks? When they don’t even follow up on the results 🙂

      • VinZ says:

        3 Sep3 September 16:29

        Last time I flew back I tried to use an old one and it didn’t work. I think they’ve swapped to live check system…

        • Pete M says:

          3 Sep3 September 17:30

          Or it checked its own database against used codes? 🙂

    • Pablo says:

      3 Sep3 September 14:55

      Is their removal from the list even relevant? Gov.uk states that “The government does not endorse or recommend any specific test provider – you should do your own research about them and their terms and conditions”

    • David says:

      3 Sep3 September 22:25

      The sensible thing to do would be to do both. Something like a luhn checksum to guard against keying errors (could even be done client-side) and also fuller validation to guard against people making up numbers.

  • Save East Coast Rewards says:

    3 Sep3 September 17:37

    I did a PLF for a cancelled flight of mine (i.e. I wasn’t intending to use it, I was just experimenting). I put in a number that started with ‘FAKET’ and the correct number of digits and the PLF was generated. So I don’t think there’s any check digit and it doesn’t appear that the identifier of the test provider is checked either

    • Blenz101 says:

      3 Sep3 September 19:37

      Wouldn’t the test be if you are stopped at the border by your PLF being flagged for further investigation.

      The officer then asking you to provide proof of purchase.

    • Dan says:

      6 Sep6 September 13:37

      Yep, used fake reference numbers on 5 occasions without any issue, just need to be in correct format. Just in case of checks on border, I changed old genuine test confirmation email and edited in made-up code, but that’s probably overkill

• ChrisW says:

  3 Sep3 September 13:16

  Half the time my PLF isn’t checked at all, the other half they barely glance at it.

  • NFH says:

    3 Sep3 September 13:33

    How do you know whether or not the validity of your PLF is checked by the system? Or are you referring only to the part of the process that you can see, i.e. the human process at immigration?

• Kenny says:

  3 Sep3 September 13:20

  Which company supplies the cheapest tests now?

  • Pete M says:

    3 Sep3 September 13:28

    Proper at-home testing is Randox at £43. There’s a bunch of other in-person ones that are as low as £20 – whether you turn up or not is down to you I suppose.

  • Travel Strong says:

    3 Sep3 September 13:43

    Nationwide pathology (£40) is mentioned daily.

    If you are near a Randox drop box, Randox makes sense due to reputation. However if you are not – nationwide pathology seems like the latest way to go.

• Travel Strong says:

  3 Sep3 September 13:41

  Flying in tomorrow (using Expert medicals Day 2 reference). PLF accepted the reference. We shall see if there’s any issue!

  Suspect there will only be an issue if gov/border force actively seek out EXMED users to make an issue of it.

  • V says:

    4 Sep4 September 18:11

    Did you have any problem with the PLF on arrival?

• roberto says:

  3 Sep3 September 13:43

  There was a time when you had to buy a day 2 test even if you were transiting. I purchased @ £175 and got the code for the PLF. I used the same code 4 times over the next two or three months as I transited through the UK never once being in the UK at the end of day 2.

  There is no way that the government have a system in place to check your reference against a live list. I know people that just made up references to enter the UK. The whole system is an @r5e covering exercise.

  • Pete M says:

    3 Sep3 September 13:49

    Such a cynic Roberto! We have one of the toughest border regimes in the world, okay?! 🙂

    • Rui N. says:

      3 Sep3 September 13:59

      @Pete, that is clearly a lie. We wanted to do that, but the EU didn’t allow us to control our borders, while forcing us to turn away non-EU university graduates and letting homeless eastern europeans in. (This was sarcasm, inspired by some conversations in the comments over the past few months.)

      • Pete M says:

        3 Sep3 September 14:18

        I hope my own sarcasm was apparent Rui 😋 I for one am quite comfortable with this charade, though, because an Australia-style police state wouldn’t work for my family life!

  • RegularPoster says:

    3 Sep3 September 13:54

    It has got harder to provide a fake code, but a quick search online gives the format required

• Mike P says:

  3 Sep3 September 13:46

  I bought an Expert Medicals test to use for my day 2 test when I return to the UK this coming Monday. Given I bought it before they were removed from the approved list, I shall use it as planned. Not surprised they’ve been removed as an approved supplier though.

• RegularPoster says:

  3 Sep3 September 13:52

  You’ll have to take my word for this, and for obvious reasons not posting under my usual name, but it isn’t checked entirely. It checks the first 5 or so characters are a valid set, but the actual code can be duff.

  Whether you actually take the test or not is not currently tracked, although they are looking into this.

  • JDB says:

    3 Sep3 September 13:56

    Does that mean that in theory that makes it easier for them to block the whole set of EM numbers?

    • RegularPoster says:

      3 Sep3 September 13:59

      Haven’t seen an EM code, but yes, technically. Having said that, it asks you to check the format if the first 5 aren’t recognised, but still allows submission if you confirm you’ve confirmed the code.

      The current system is rubbish.

• Dayle says:

  3 Sep3 September 14:05

  Love these types of articles, one of the main reasons HFP is simply the best!

  Going to Ukraine in 4 weeks, I’ve done extensive research on what’s needed (Fit 2 Fly out / Lat Flow to end quarantine in Ukraine and then lat flow before coming back + standard Amber rules in UK)

  Does anyone know if I could just buy another Lat Flow and take with me to use as pre return test? Would simply buying another Fit2Fly work? Or another day 2? This is the only bit I’m stuck with

  It looks like the test to release (in Ukraine) can only be done by someone over there…

  So many thanks in advane

  • Pete M says:

    3 Sep3 September 14:24

    Sure you can – Prenetics, Qured or Chronomics would work for the return and it’s what most people on here do.

  • Jason says:

    3 Sep3 September 18:00

    I’m in Ukraine now and there’s no test requirement before/after entering Ukraine if fully vaccinated. If you’re not any test will be accepted, then you can get a quick antigen test at the airport on arrival for about £15 which needs to be government approved as the provider send an end quarantine message to the quarantine app to release you. All latest info here: https://visitukraine.today/.

    Back to the UK, not sure if they accept antigen. If not, you can get a PCR in a medical branch like Dila or Synevo for £30 with a certificate.

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