Services
COVID-19 Testing Service
Page Contents
Overview
The COVID-19 PCR Test
The COVID-19 Lateral Flow/Antigen Test
How do we collect your COVID-19 PCR and Lateral Flow Test?
What do Your Results Mean?
At P&S Chemist, we provide both versions of the COVID-19 test, the COVID-19 PCR test, with your results in 24 hours, which will enable you to undertake essential travel to a foreign destination during a lockdown. or, the COVID-19 Lateral Flow/Antigen test, which will provide your result in 15 minutes, complete with a fit-to-fly certificate; although this Covid test may not enable you to undertake essential travel during a lockdown and or to a particular foreign destination after lockdown.
Consequently, if you need to be tested for overseas travel, the COVID-19 PCR test is the correct test for you. if you are seeking peace of mind for work-related reasons, or to help protect vulnerable family members, the COVID-19 Lateral Flow/Antigen test is the ideal test for you.
Please Note: Some airlines have now decided to accept the COVID-19 Lateral Flow/Antigen test as evidence you do not have an existing COVID-19 infection, providing you have a fit-to-fly certificate. Please check with your airline before you book or arrive at our pharmacy to ensure you have the correct COVID-19 test.
The COVID-19 PCR Test
The COVID-19 PCR test at P&S Chemist is supported by most airline carriers, with your results in 24 hours. Consequently, it is important that you ensure you have sufficient time before you travel to receive your results. This test is ideal for those who wish to fly overseas for essential or recreational travel. Although, it should be noted some airlines are now accepting the Lateral Flow/Antigen test for overseas travel purposes also, particularly in and around Europe, although in all cases, please check with your airline for which test you should have.
The COVID-19 PCR test provided by P&S Chemist requires a nasal swab to be taken, to test for the presence of COVID-19 (SARs-Cov-2) and will be taken in a suitable environment to limit potential infection. This test will then be sent off to the laboratory and you will receive your results in 24 hours. Please contact P&S Chemist on 0208 478 6108 to find out our latest prices for this test, plus the cut-off time for your test to be completed in order to receive your results before you travel.
The COVID-19 Lateral Flow/Antigen Test
The COVID-19 Lateral Flow/Antigen test available at P&S Chemist is ideal for anyone seeking peace of mind about a possible infection of the coronavirus for themselves, vulnerable family members, or work colleagues; with your results in 15 minutes and costs £39.00.
The Lateral Flow/Antigen test provided by our pharmacy requires a nasal swab sample to be taken, to test for the presence of COVID-19 (SARs-Cov-2) and will be undertaken in a suitable environment to limit the possibility of further infection to our patients and members of staff.
How do we collect your COVID-19 PCR and Lateral Flow/Antigen Test Test?
In order to undertake your COVID-19 PCR test or Lateral Flow/Antigen test, we collect a nasal swab sample by:
- Carefully inserting a disposable swab, provided within the antigen testing kit, into one nostril. using gentle rotation and pushing the swab up to 2.5cm (1 inch) from the edge of the nostril.
- We will then rotate the swab five times against the mucosa inside your nostril to ensure sufficient specimen collection.
- Using the same swab, we will repeat this process in the other nostril to ensure that an adequate amount of sample is collected from both nasal cavities.
- Then we will remove the swab from your nasal cavity. this sample test is now ready for preparation, so you can get your results.
What do Your Results Mean?
Upon successfully completing a COVID-19 rapid Lateral Flow/Antigen test or COVID-19 PCR test, your results will be as follows:
Negative: Only one coloured control line appears in the control region and no coloured line will appear in the test line area. This means no SARs-Cov-2 antigen was detected. this means the nasal sample you have provided is clear of COVID-19 and you are not currently infectious. Despite this, the incubation period for COVID-19 is quoted at between 3 to 6 days, so you should continue to follow current government guidance and consider retesting in 5 to 7 days.
Positive: Two distinct coloured lines appear. One line is in the control region and the other line is within the test line area. This means that the presence of SARs-Cov-2 antigen has been detected. This means you are infectious with COVID-19, and you should immediately self-isolate.
Page last reviewed: 26/06/2023
Next review date: 25/06/2025