Preparing for Your COVID-19 Test
You must book to be tested at ExpressTest. Please choose from these products to find out more:
This is to be used if you are NOT travelling but need a test
Booking Your Test
Booking is essential to get tested at ExpressTest. We offer gold standard COVID-19 PCR testing at these UK locations.
Book your slot at your preferred testing centre and pay online. You will be sent a confirmation email with a QR code, which you must bring to your appointment.
Arriving For Your Test
Please wear a mask until the moment that you are being swabbed. Our team will tell you when to remove your mask and put it on again afterwards.
Please bring with you:
- Photo ID for all people being tested
- Confirmation email with QR code for each person being tested
You will be greeted by a member of the ExpressTest Team, who will check your documentation.
You will remain in your car/taxi at our Drive Throughs, or will be directed to the swabbing area at our Walk Throughs.
Our Drive Through vehicle height restriction is 2.4m
Our Testing Process
Please make sure that you do not eat or drink anything for 30 minutes before your swab is taken. This is to reduce the risk of tainting the swab (therefore not producing a result).
Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Each customer will be safely swabbed by one of our clinically trained swabbing practitioners 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
This is for travelling FROM the UK, where a PCR test is required
Booking Your Test
Booking is essential to get tested at ExpressTest. We offer gold standard COVID-19 PCR testing at these UK locations.
Book your slot at your preferred testing centre and pay online. You will be sent a confirmation email with a QR code, which you must bring to your appointment.
Arriving For Your Test
Please wear a mask until the moment that you are being swabbed. Our team will tell you when to remove your mask and put it on again afterwards.
Please bring with you:
- Photo ID for all people being tested
- Confirmation email with QR code for each person being tested
You will be greeted by a member of the ExpressTest Team, who will check your documentation.
You will remain in your car/taxi at our Drive Throughs, or will be directed to the swabbing area at our Walk Throughs.
Our Drive Through vehicle height restriction is 2.4m
Our Testing Process
Please make sure that you do not eat or drink anything for 30 minutes before your swab is taken. This is to reduce the risk of tainting the swab (therefore not producing a result).
Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Each customer will be safely swabbed by one of our clinically trained swabbing practitioners 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.
This is for travelling FROM the UK, where a LAMP test is required
Booking Your Test
ExpressTest offers LAMP testing at Heathrow Airport. Please see our ‘book a test’ pages for latest locations.
Book your slot at your preferred facility and pay online. You will be sent a confirmation email with a QR code.
We advise booking your test no less than 4 hours before any travel plans you may have.
Arriving For Your Test
Please wear a mask until the moment that you are being swabbed. Our team will tell you when to remove your mask and put it on again afterwards.
Bring with you:
- Passports for all people being tested
- Confirmation email with QR code for each person being tested
You will be greeted by a member of the ExpressTest Team, who will check your documentation
Please do not eat or drink anything acidic (fruit juice or sweets) in the 30mins before your test.
Our Testing Process
Please make sure that you do not eat or drink anything for 30 minutes before your swab is taken. This is to reduce the risk of tainting the swab (therefore not producing a result).
Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Each customer will be safely swabbed by one of our clinically trained swabbing practitioners in full PPE
Swabbing involves taking a sample from the nasal passage
Your swab sample is then safely stored and labelled, ready to be sent to the laboratory for testing
This is for travelling FROM the UK, where a Antigen Lateral Flow Test is required
Booking Your Test
Booking is essential to get tested at ExpressTest. We offer Antigen Lateral Flow testing at a number of our test centres across the UK.
Book your slot at your preferred testing centre and pay online. You will be sent a confirmation email with a QR code, which you must bring to your appointment.
Arriving For Your Test
Please wear a mask until the moment that you are being swabbed. Our team will tell you when to remove your mask and put it on again afterwards.
Please bring with you:
- Photo ID for all people being tested
- Confirmation email with QR code for each person being tested
You will be greeted by a member of the ExpressTest Team, who will check your documentation.
You will be directed to the swabbing area at our Walk Throughs and Park to Test. There are dedicated parking areas for coaches, minibuses and taxis at our Heathrow Park to Test centre.
Our Testing Process
Please make sure that you do not eat or drink anything for 30 minutes before your swab is taken. This is to reduce the risk of tainting the swab (therefore not producing a result).
Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Each customer will be safely swabbed by one of our clinically trained swabbing practitioners in full PPE
Swabbing involves taking a sample from the nasal passage
This service is for travellers arriving into the UK. For those who qualify as fully vaccinated, we offer a single Day 2 PCR or Lateral Flow test. For those who do not qualify as fully vaccinated, we offer an Arrivals package (Day 2 & Day 8 PCR tests) and if arriving into England, you can also select a Test to Release test if you would like one.
Don't forget to fill out the Passenger Locator Form as well, the code you need for this will be on your order confirmation e-mail.
Booking Your Test
Arrivals testing is required for all passengers arriving into England unless you are exempt. It you are arriving from a Red List country, then you are not eligible for our service, and must use the UK Government's 'managed quarantine' service following the Government guidelines.
You may book your Day 2 test for the day of arrival in the UK, as it can be done on or before Day 2. Choose your slot at your preferred testing centre to make a booking and pay online.
For packages, you will receive the booking confirmations in sequence, one test at a time, these will contain a different QR Code for each test, which you must bring to your appointment.
The Day 2 test confirmation will arrive within 30mins of booking. For subsequent tests, your confirmation and QR code will be sent to you after you have received your negative result from the previous test.
Arriving For Your Test
Please wear a mask until the moment that you are being swabbed. Our team will tell you when to remove your mask and put it on again afterwards.
Please bring with you:
- Photo ID for all people being tested
- Confirmation email with QR code for each person being tested
You will be greeted by a member of the ExpressTest Team, who will check your documentation.
You will remain in your car/taxi at our Drive Throughs, or will be directed to the swabbing area at our Walk Throughs.
Our Drive Through vehicle height restriction is 2.4m
Our Testing Process
Please make sure that you do not eat or drink anything for 30 minutes before your swab is taken. This is to reduce the risk of tainting the swab (therefore not producing a result).
Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Each customer will be safely swabbed by one of our clinically trained swabbing practitioners 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
This is to be used if you are arriving in England (not available in Scotland, Wales or NI), and would like to try to release from quarantine with a Day 5 test.
You are able to book this as a package of Tests, together with Arrivals Day 2 & 8 Tests.
Booking Your Test
Test to release is designed to allow you to reduce quarantine period after travel and is available at our Heathrow T4, Gatwick, Birmingham, Brent Cross, Croydon, Paddington, Northampton, Reading and Southampton test centres.
It must be used in accordance with government guidelines.
Book your slot at your preferred test centre and pay online. You will be sent a confirmation email with a QR code, which you must bring to your appointment.
Arriving For Your Test
Please wear a mask until the moment that you are being swabbed. Our team will tell you when to remove your mask and put it on again afterwards.
Please bring with you:
- Photo ID for all people being tested
- Confirmation email with QR code for each person being tested
You will be greeted by a member of the ExpressTest Team, who will check your documentation.
You will remain in your car/taxi at our Drive Throughs, or will be directed to the swabbing area at our Walk Throughs.
Our Drive Through vehicle height restriction is 2.4m
Our Testing Process
Please make sure that you do not eat or drink anything for 30 minutes before your swab is taken. This is to reduce the risk of tainting the swab (therefore not producing a result).
Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Each customer will be safely swabbed by one of our clinically trained swabbing practitioners 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.
Please visit our dedicated PCR Home Test Information or our Arrivals Antigen Lateral Flow Kit pages
This is to take abroad with you to use as your 'Pre-return to UK test. You must self-administer the test within 3 days of your RETURN to the UK.
Booking Your Test
ExpressTest offers Antigen Lateral Flow kits to buy ahead of your travel abroad.
Order your kit on our website to be sent to your UK address before you travel. Your kit will be dispatched the same day if ordered before 6pm (working days only). Your kit will be delivered by Yodel.
Our Testing Process
Within 3 days of your return to the UK, administer you Antigen Lateral Flow Test, after 25mins upload a photo of your test together with the photo page of your passport.
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, read our dedicated FAQs page.
Book online via our 'Book a Test' page. You can choose your preferred testing centre, time and also pay online.
You will then be sent a Booking Confirmation email containing your Booking Reference (a number beginning CPT or SCPT) and a QR code attached. This could take up to 30 minutes to receive after you’ve made your booking. We suggest you also check your spam/junk folder for the email, as some email providers may place it there.
You must bring the QR code with you when you arrive for your test. Please also bring your valid Passport, National ID or Travel Document if you have booked 'PCR Fit to Fly' Test or 'PCR Test to Release' Test.
Can I book over the phone?
Bookings can only be made via our website and not by phone. Our website currently shows all our available slots and you will not gain access to additional slots by calling our customer care centre.
If you need more than one product
You should make separate bookings. e.g. if you want a PCR Fit to Fly Test for departure and also an arrivals package for your return, you should make two separate bookings.
Note: not all products are available at every site due to different laboratory processes.
Maximum Group Size
You can book for up to 5 people in one booking. If your group is larger than this you will need to make 2 or more bookings and arrive in 2 or more vehicles.
Don't forget to bring all of your QR codes to the appointments.
We currently have testing centres at Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham and Edinburgh airports, as well as regional testing centres across the country - please see our 'Directions' page to find the test centre nearest to you. (Not all tests are available at all locations.)
Walk throughs and Drive throughs
Please note that some centres are 'Drive through', some are 'Walk through' and some are both of these. Please check the test centre accommodates the method of transport you intend to use.
Park to Test
Our Park to Test facility is at our Heathrow Drive through site. It is for Antigen Lateral Flow tests only, and allows you to park outside the door while you go in and get your test done.
It is very suitable for families and groups from the same bubble who are all getting Antigen Lateral Flow tests at the same time.
There are dedicated parking areas for coaches, minibuses and taxis at our Heathrow Park to Test centre.
RT-PCR Tests
Please note that we aim to deliver your PCR test results by 10pm the day AFTER your test. (Home tests are different).
3 Hour RT-PCR Tests
The 3 Hour PCR test results will be delivered within 3 hours of your sample being taken. (Available at selected locations by appointment: please make a booking.)
LAMP Tests
LAMP test results will be delivered 2 hours after testing. But please check that LAMP is accepted by your destination country.
Antigen Lateral Flow Tests
We aim to deliver your Lateral Flow results in 40mins from your sample being taken, but please allow sufficient time especially if the test is required to check-in for your flight.
Home Tests
Home test results will be delivered 24 hours after the sample arrives at our laboratory.
Remote Lateral Flow
The Remote Lateral Flow test results are delivered in 1 hour providing that all the information is uploaded correctly and in a readable format.
Our dedicated and specially trained staff are available at the Customer Assistance Zone through all our opening hours at the Heathrow Drive through Testing Centre. In addition to their experience in looking after your needs during testing, they can also offer you the following:
Breathing Space
Need a little more space and time to relax to get your test done? We can provide that for you in our dedicated Customer Assistance Zone. Take as long as you need to relax and get ready for your test to be done for you, by our specially trained and patient staff.
Wheelchair Ramp
While we recognise that using our Drive through facility may be your favoured choice for your test, we can provide a space for you to come into our Customer Assistance Zone if you would like a little more time or space for your test.
Hearing Loop
It can be quite difficult to hear in wide open spaces with lots of people talking, to hear what’s being said. We can provide a portable loop, so if you set your hearing aid to the ‘T’ setting we can improve the experience for you to be able to hear everything that is going on while you are with us.
Young Families
If you have young children, we know how much anxiety it can bring to try and get your young ones through the testing process. If you feel that you might benefit from more space and time, then please feel free to ask for our Customer Assistance Zone on your arrival at Heathrow Drive through. We will direct you to a space where you can have all the time that you need to get the tests done for everyone in your family.
How can I access this assistance?
Book your required test at Heathrow Drive through (or Park to Test is also ok), then when you arrive to check in for your test, please ask the staff if you can be tested at the Customer Assistance Zone. They will guide you to the right place where we can provide the help that you need.
All tests can be done in the Customer Assistance Zone, except Staff Testing.
When you visit one of our centres, we may ask you to wear a mask until the moment that you are being swabbed (depending on the environment provided at your Testing Centre). The swabbing practitioner will tell you when to remove your mask and when put it back on afterwards (if required).
All of our staff will be wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and they are RT-PCR tested twice a week, routinely.
Safeguarding
Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian to be tested.
No - please don't come to our sites if you have any COVID-19 symptoms. We advise you to contact NHS 111 to get further advice.
Toilets
There are no customer facilities within our Testing Centres.
To ensure the highest levels of safety for both our customers and our staff at our Drive through centres, we must ask that customers do not leave their vehicle whilst at our testing facilities.
Waiting rooms
After we have taken your swab you will need to leave our Testing Centre as there are no customer waiting facilities on site.
For all RT-PCR Tests at our testing centres, we aim to email your result notification to you by 10pm the day AFTER your test.
If you are waiting for a 3 hour RT-PCR, a LAMP or Antigen Lateral Flow Test result, then you can make your way to the airline/transport check-in area, because your results will be with you within 3 hours (3-hr RT-PCR), 2 hours (LAMP) or 40 minutes (Antigen Lateral Flow).
