Amazon launches £34.99 Day 2 PCR tests, processed at its own laboratory

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• Andy says:

  14 Dec14 December 04:39

  Interesting! Although have the wonder how long some of these tests will be needed. If Omicron becomes as widespread and prevalent as the Govt seems to suggesting it will be then not sure there’s much point in all these tests in a few weeks time

  • Tariq says:

    14 Dec14 December 04:56

    As we’ve seen over the last two years though, rationale doesn’t drive political reaction…

  • Char Char says:

    14 Dec14 December 14:10

    Well i’m sure they will make enough money in the short term from these test

• Ian says:

  14 Dec14 December 05:20

  Shame that they didn’t undercut other providers.

  These firms are making a lot of profit here.

  • Lady Londob says:

    14 Dec14 December 07:27

    Exacrly.

    If Amazon has to pile in this late but is keeping this price, which isn’t really competitive, rhis is a bad sign about ripoff test prices continuing in the UK

    • David says:

      14 Dec14 December 07:33

      If they’re processed in the lab originally established to process their own staff’s tests, maybe the price is set at a level which they expect will manage to sell all (or most) of their excess capacity. At another time of year when demand is lower maybe their prices will come down?

  • AndyGWP says:

    14 Dec14 December 13:12

    They probably don’t need to undercut. I think a good chunk of people will pay more to use a service that is convenient, they expect will deliver and has decent support rather than cutting corners to pay less money (and having a load of hassle).

    From a business perspective, I think they’ve pitched the price about right given the market they are operating in.

    Remember that they won’t want to become everyones company of choice on day one (and get overwhelmed / bad press)

• William Smith says:

  14 Dec14 December 06:52

  I’m using expert medicals for 20 quid. The margin these companies must make on these tests is ridiculous especially those charging 50 quid for a rapid test.

  • Jay says:

    14 Dec14 December 07:32

    Expert Medical have been removed from the government list due to a huge number of complaints according to Which?

    • Alex M says:

      14 Dec14 December 07:36

      Govt list means nothing, as i understand, as being on the list is not a requirement of acceptance of their results.

      • MikeL says:

        14 Dec14 December 08:01

        You’re correct. I used them at the end of October. No issue at all when entering the details of the reference on the PLF.

  • Pablo says:

    14 Dec14 December 07:32

    How long do they take to provide a result nowadays? Used to be close to a week earlier in the year.

    • danimal says:

      14 Dec14 December 07:48

      It says 24 hours max after receipt at the lab, so for a day 2 test this means a lot of isolating at home. I think I’ll pay the extra for a same day result to shorten the quarantine.

      • Renaud says:

        14 Dec14 December 11:04

        It’s not really a Day 2 test, you have to take it within 2 days of arrival in the UK, so you can take them on Day 0 and be free of quarantine on Day 1.

    • Roosit says:

      14 Dec14 December 08:36

      Last week 42 hours from posting to result. Test kit stated result would be available within 48 hours from receipt of test at the lab. This was the case for three tests in two different households (and not posted together). If one is wfh and no urgent reason to go out I think it’s ok. Agree though if there’s time pressure then on-site testing is the safer bet.

  • Iain miller says:

    14 Dec14 December 09:02

    Note of caution.
    I used this company in October. We never received the results.
    I had read the reviews and didn’t care too much as back then it was really just to get a code for the PLF.
    Different story now you have to isolate till you get the results.

    Some people have had no issues with them, but many have.

    On a brighter note, I claimed a refund via my credit card, but that would have been no compensation for a prolonged isolation.

    • Rob says:

      14 Dec14 December 09:22

      Expert Medicals is under investigation by the Competition & Markets Authority, as you will find if you google.

• Scott says:

  14 Dec14 December 09:08

  It would be awesome if they could introduce an outbound PCR Testing system for travelling to Australia and the likes. I’m sure AWS can figure out a way of making it with AI so they don’t need bums on seats for a Zoom call to verify compliance.

  • Louie says:

    14 Dec14 December 09:45

    Australia requires in person testing.

• froggitt says:

  14 Dec14 December 09:19

  This will blow the rubbish (30p tests plus £60 postage) out of the water. No need to go searching for tests any more in the same way that there’s no need to go searching for anything any more!!!

• Paul says:

  14 Dec14 December 10:06

  Doubt there will be a requirement before long for these.. from what was said last night in the commons, it sounds like they’ll cease the ridiculous PCR requirement very soon.

  • Harry T says:

    14 Dec14 December 10:17

    I certainly hope so. I’m currently isolating, waiting for my PCR day 2 results. I’ve previously recovered from covid, had three Pfizer shots, and tested PCR negative three times since December 3rd, but still require this stupid day 2 PCR because I’ve been to the UAE. There’s far less covid and omicron abroad than there is in the UK. I wish the government didn’t keep using travel restrictions as a way to score political points and try to distract from the various Boris associated calamities.

• ankomonkey says:

  14 Dec14 December 10:46

  HfP is quoted on this topic on a piece marked as from The Independent on the MSN GB.

• Aliks says:

  14 Dec14 December 11:05

  We are travelling on Eurostar to Paris this weekend, staying at the Kimpton St Honore.

  We need to book a lateral flow test somewhere convenient for the Kimpton or Gare du Nord – lots are listed on the French national health site, (www.sante.fr/cf/centres-depistage-covid/departement-75-paris.html) but its not so easy to decode the French test types. Can anyone recommend?

  Apologies for double posting – its not clear where people are looking at questions now the forum is open.

  • Lady London says:

    14 Dec14 December 13:29

    Pretty much any pharmacy and there aew lots of them. Test covid antigène price fixed 22 euros. Usually you wait in person half an hour or so for results printed out in front of you. Don’t pay the “Paris surcharge” or the “foreigner surcharge’ if they try it on the price is regulated.

    That’s no more than £19 for inperson service. Unlike in ripoff UK.

  • Lyn says:

    15 Dec15 December 01:19

    The pharmacy on the other side of the Le Grand hotel on Rue Auber (opposite the Opera) does rapid antigen tests as well as PCR tests. No appointment needed but it is popular so you may have to queue for a few minutes. In person, standard French prices.

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