Accurate and Affordable
COVID-19 Testing in the UK
ExpressTest is a COVID-19 testing service providing fast, accurate and reliable PCR screening across the UK. It is a programme that is run by the direct to consumer division of Cignpost Diagnostics Limited.
We offer accurate and affordable, gold standard PCR testing for only £99, with subsidised concessions for airport passengers and staff. We will aim to provide you with results the following day.
Testing facilities in the UK | Testing for only £99 | Results the next day
Bookings at Gatwick Airport will open on Friday 27 November
Bookings are now open at Edinburgh Airport.
About ExpressTest
Cignpost Diagnostics Limited has provided COVID-19 testing facilities for some of the world's leading companies and organisations, such as Netflix, the BBC, the Scottish Premiership and the PGA European Tour.
ExpressTest, a division of Cignpost Diagnostics Limited uses its established network of on-site and bricks and mortar laboratories across the UK to deliver fast, accurate, gold standard COVID-19 testing.
Fast and Affordable
By leveraging our established network of regional laboratories, it means we can get your results back to you quicker. We aim to deliver your results the following day – for the competitive price of £99 per test.
PPE and Safety
At our screening facilities, your swab will be taken by one of our clinically trained sample takers. Our sample takers are all fully trained in both administering and storing swab samples, and wear full PPE when on site.
Trusted Testing
We use PCR testing machines, the gold standard for COVID-19 screening. All our devices are CE-IVD approved, so conform to the highest regulatory standards.
“The Cignpost Diagnostics COVID-19 screening service has allowed the BBC's 'The Pursuit of Love' to return to work quickly and safely and to get us back to doing what we do best - producing great television. The mobile laboratory is extremely professional, staffed by a team of technicians who efficiently turn our tests around quickly with results back with us within a few short hours. I’ve been especially impressed at the flexibility shown by the Cignpost Diagnostics team who have reacted quickly to changes in the testing numbers as our schedule has evolved throughout the shoot.”
— Ian Hogan, Producer BBC
How It Works
ExpressTest offers two COVID-19 testing solutions. Either, travel to one of our screening centres, or have the test sent to your home and administer it yourself. Choose the type of test you’d like below.
Booking Your Test
We now have sites at Edinburgh Airport and Gatwick Airport, with more sites across the UK to open soon.
Book your slot at your preferred facility and pay online. You will be sent a confirmation email with a QR code.
Arriving For Your Test
Arrive at the drive-through screening facility 15 minutes before your allotted time slot. You must bring photo ID with you.
You will be greeted by a member of the ExpressTest team, who will then direct you to the swabbing area for your allocated slot.
Please bring your passport with you if you want a Fit to Fly certificate.
Our Testing Process
Anyone who has registered for a test will then be safely swabbed by one of our sample takers in full PPE.
Swabbing involves taking a sample from both the back of the throat and the nasal passage.
Your swab sample is then safely stored and labelled, ready to be sent to an ExpressTest laboratory.
After The Test
Your sample will then be transported to our laboratory, where it will be tested for COVID-19. See our Why Choose Us section if you require further information.
You will receive your results via email or text. We aim to deliver your results the following day.
Your Results
If your result is negative, you will receive email confirmation of this. You will also receive a ‘Fit to Fly’ certificate, although you must check with your travel operator that this is acceptable documentation.
If your result is positive, we will contact you with instructions on the appropriate next steps to take. We will then contact the appropriate UK Public Health authority on your behalf and send your details on to the NHS Test and Trace service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you have any queries about ExpressTest, here are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about our services. Alternatively, for a more extensive list of answers, click here to read our dedicated FAQs page.
Book and pay for your preferred time and testing centre, via our ‘Book a Test’ page. You will then be sent a confirmation email with an accompanying QR code. You must bring a copy of the QR code with you on the day of your test. You must also bring your passport if you require a Fit to Fly Certificate. For more information about our booking process, please visit our 'How It Works' page.
We currently have screening facility at Gatwick Airport, with more centres opening soon around the UK. We aim to have over 30 locations operating by the end of December.
We offer a gold standard PCR COVID-19 test for £99, with subsidised concessions for airport passengers and staff, bookings can exclusively be made through our website. We have an extensive network of labs, equipment and personnel and are therefore able to offer a very competitive price.
An antibody test detects if you have already had the virus by checking for your body’s immune response to that virus, i.e. the presence of antibodies. This is as opposed to the antigen test, which only detects virus that is currently in your body. As part of our ExpressTest service, we are only offering gold standard Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) antigen tests.
A swab is taken from the throat and nasal passage. It is quickly undertaken and does not hurt.
Airline passengers are eligible for our Fit to Fly certificate if they screen negative. The certificate will be emailed along with your test result to the email address you have provided. The document provides evidence that you have taken a COVID-19 screening test prior to your flight, however, you must check with your travel provider that they will accept this before booking the test.
ExpressTest News and Blogs
Discover the latest from ExpressTest and news on the COVID-19 pandemic below.
For any media enquires please contact our PR agency, Launch on [email protected]
ExpressTest Launches at Gatwick Airport
During 2020, hopping on a plane and travelling to far-flung destinations hasn’t been as easy as it once was. With many of us longing to have the luxury of flying once more, and others having to make essential air travel...
Tips to Stay Safe and Well this Winter
With lockdown 2.0 underway and the colder months approaching, you may have questions around how you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe this winter. Take a look at our guidance and advice to ensure...
ExpressTest Home Kits
With rapid testing continuing to play a vital role in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and following the successful launch of Cignpost Diagnostics Limited’s screening centres within the UK, ExpressTest are conducting a pilot for home testing kits
Why Choose Us?
Our first concern is for our customer’s safety and welfare. This is why all our tests conform to the highest safety standards and use the latest gold standard technology to provide you with accurate results and peace of mind.
