antigenic test for UK return
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 218
antigenic test for UK return
Going nearly mad trying to return to the UK from a French holiday. I thought I'd booked a PCR test at a French pharmacie, but it turns out it's antigenique. Is an antigenic test acceptable?
Gov.uk says:
The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.This could include tests such as:
So in my bad French I'm supposed to ask a small town pharmacie about ≥97% specificity????? The pharmacie showed me a sample certicate with EU banners and so on.
Life is becoming a nightmare.... Any thoughts/experience, please?
Gov.uk says:
The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.This could include tests such as:
- a PCR test
- a LAMP test
- an antigen test, such as an LFD (lateral flow device) test
So in my bad French I'm supposed to ask a small town pharmacie about ≥97% specificity????? The pharmacie showed me a sample certicate with EU banners and so on.
Life is becoming a nightmare.... Any thoughts/experience, please?
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2012
Location: Dépt 61
Posts: 5,254
Re: antigenic test for UK return
Easy to say I know but I would just do the test and present the certificate with a confident smile. I don't think anyone really understands UK rules. If you have an official looking piece of paper and you look confident I doubt anyone will challenge you. In the unlikely event that they do, tell them you asked the chemist and were assured it met the criteria. Probably all antigen tests meet those criteria because why any chemist offer tests that are considered unreliable when there are better ones available, I would be surprised if the EU had all round lower standards than the UK..
Let us know how you get on
Let us know how you get on
#3
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 27
Re: antigenic test for UK return
I am shortly going to face the same dilemma so was wondering if anyone had any experience of getting a PCR test in Nice. I understand that they do it at the airport, has anyone used that service, is it walk-in and how much does it costs.
Also, there is a company Eurofins which has several places in Nice. Again, how much does it cost and has anyone tried them.
Also, there is a company Eurofins which has several places in Nice. Again, how much does it cost and has anyone tried them.
#4
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 218
Re: antigenic test for UK return
The UK accepts an antigenique test, doable in many a French pharmacie - I paid E25 and got the results in 15 mins. The result came on an EU certificate. But for Day 2 in the UK, the UK insist on an expensive PCR test. The whole system is so riddled with inconsistencies... But we plebs must obey our masters.
#6
#10
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 6
Re: antigenic test for UK return
Understand your predicament. I am going home to Scotland for the first time in 18 months and trying to find a test for day 2 arrival in Scotland and it's a nightmare. The Scottish governemnt refers you to a link for CTM (Corporate Management Travel) which seems to be for companies and not individuals. Have been trying for days to find out where to get this test and if it is a full PCR one or one self-administrated (will be getting a PCR before leaving France).