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Pick up a Randox ‘Day 2’ test at your local PayPoint store – but you are overpaying

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With lateral flow tests now being accepted again for ‘Day 0-2’ testing on your return to the UK, Randox has teamed up with PayPoint to make its ‘click and collect’ service more widely available.

You can now order a Randox lateral flow test test for collection at any local store in the Collect+ network, which currently includes over 5,000 locations. This number is expected to increase to 10,000 locations within a few weeks.

From mid January, you will also be able to buy a Randox ‘Day 0-2’ test in 2,500 small shops across the UK without the need to pre-order. I am assuming that you would need to do this in advance of leaving the UK in order to get the necessary reference number for your Passenger Locator Form.

That said ….

Whilst Randox has very competitive pricing for ‘Day 2’ PCR testing, it is not competitive for ‘Day 2’ ‘test at home’ lateral flow kits.

Because these tests are not being processed in a laboratory, there is simply no need to pay a premium price for them. All you do is take the test and upload a picture of the negative result to the website of your test provider. Job done.

I have used simplytestme twice at £12 per test, posted First Class to my house, and they were fine. This is hardly surprising, since all they needed to do was issue a code for my Passenger Locator Form, post me a test and have a website which can accept a screenshot upload. It’s not exactly rocket science.

Even £12 from simplytestme represents a substantial mark-up on the cost price, given that I was able to find identical tests at £2 if I was willing to buy 10,000 of them. Even after VAT and postage costs they will be doing nicely.

Randox is having a laugh at £21.50 per test, or £18.95 for ‘click and collect’ and you should give them a miss for ‘Day 2’ lateral flow home tests. The pricing is even higher for home delivery (£24) if you don’t have a discount code from your airline. Randox remains a good choice for PCR testing, however – I have used them in the past and Rhys paid £35 for a ‘Day 2’ click and collect PCR test this week.

Comments (63)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Phil G says:

    The whole pandemic is about money for testing. I dread to think what the NHS is paying for all these ‘free’ lateral flow tests everyone is doing every day – and who owns these companies ?
    Anyway I personally have found Randox to be very efficient in sending out and then processing PCR day 2 tests (results within 6 hours of posting in their drop box)

  • John T says:

    Actual question for H4P readers – does anyone actually bother purchasing and taking a Day 2 lateral flow test anymore?

    Don’t people just use any old reference number for the PLF?

    • John says:

      I guess you watch live TV without a licence, regularly drive at 100mph and don’t report your cash in hand income?

    • Bimbo says:

      Pretty stupid asking this on a public website…

    • ChrisC says:

      Yes because many of still believe in doing the right thing both for ourselves and the community.

  • Seb says:

    Slightly strange question. If I took a day 2 test on day 0 BEFORE I arrived in UK, presume I could also use the result issued to leave a transit airport of a country that required a negative test to enter? I would still be taking the test on day 0 so still complying with UK rules?

  • Tomasz Skrzypczak says:

    Is randox express 1-3 hrs RT PCR in the airport valid for Dubai? They have 3 options 1-3 hrs, 12-14 hrs and the next day.

  • JimmyJimmy says:

    Can we still use a PCR for day 2 as I have spares with ref num or another way of asking will the ref num format still be valid?
    Ta

  • John says:

    This is something I can’t find an answer to. We have just finished covid isolation today, but plan to fly to Antigua end of Feb. If our pre flight PCR test is positive (apparently it can be up to 90 days) does proof of a recent infection override the result? Thanks

    • Rob says:

      I imagine your chance of testing positive after 90 days is about 1%. Rhys and I both passed PCR tests around a week after our 10 days were up.

  • JC says:

    Does anyone know if you can use the NHS COVID-19 LFT’s that are given out for free to evidence results? (Uploading the results to the Gov/NHS Website gives you a text, email, and NHS App Confirmation).

    I’m due to fly to Switzerland (Geneva) in a couple of weeks. Entry requirements are to be fully vaccinated and have a negative PCR (not older than 72 hours or lateral flow test (not older than 24 hours) test on boarding.

    Thanks

    • Rob says:

      No.

      • JC says:

        Thanks Rob. Can you elaborate? Is there documented guidance anywhere that clarifies the difference?

        • JC says:

          Hi Strickers,
          Thanks for sharing that, however that guidance refers to travel TO England in the event of not being fully vaccinated. To clarify, I’m planning to travel FROM England to Switzerland and back (and am fully vaccinated).

        • strickers says:

          The general premise is the same, NHS LFT do not provide fit to fly certificates which is what you need. Whichever way you travel they just won’t work.

        • strickers says:

          Although to fair JC the Swiss requirements just ask for proof of test, not sure I would risk it though for the sake of £12 or so each?

  • Phil G says:

    QURED want £20 for a new day2 let also

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