PCR, Antigen tests for flights to UK
May 25th 2021, 9:15 am
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Tavira
Posts: 329
PCR, Antigen tests for flights to UK
I am eventually flying back to the UK next week having been here for 6 months due to Covid! Where can I get an Antigen test in Tavira? The last time I asked Germano De Souza they only did a PCR test for 100 Euros!!!
May 25th 2021, 10:07 am
#3
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Joined: Nov 2017
Location: Porches, Algarve
Posts: 348
Re: PCR, Antigen tests for flights to UK
So detailed here : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavi...vel-to-england
So technically antigen tests are OK. None of the ones I could find online met the standards though, so safer just to get a PCR test than be turned away at check in.
So technically antigen tests are OK. None of the ones I could find online met the standards though, so safer just to get a PCR test than be turned away at check in.
May 25th 2021, 10:17 am
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 44
Re: PCR, Antigen tests for flights to UK
I've just had to organise this for my worried elderly parents - it's a lot of admin! But this is what is what you need to do it (i've done it a fair few times now):
1. Lateral Flow Test - in Tavira (within 72 hours of boarding your flight)
You need a Lateral Flow Test to board-the-plane / get through UK passport control (and everyone at the airport in PT wants to see it, too!). I have not been here yet (as only just learned about it) but am planning to in a couple of weeks when i go back to UK. But a friend of a friend recommended it - the Red Cross in Tavira:
Red Cross (a Cruz Vermelha, Largo do Carmo, 8800-311 Tavira, Tel: +351 281 323 473, [email protected] , you can book online: https://testescovidcvp.pt/ - it costs around €25. Take your passport with you! BTW, you can only take this test 72 hours before you board your flight, so bare that in mind.
2. *Book* a PCR Test to be done in first 48 hours back in UK
Then, you also need to have *booked* a PCR test to take within the first 48 hours of being back in the UK. - you'll need the reference code for the booking before they let you back in to the UK. I would just use a postal / do-it-at-home (Qured and Randox do them, I've used both - Randox is a tad cheaper (the Asda of testing, so customer support is more limited), Qured is a bit slicker (the Waitrose of Testing!) - there are a load of discount codes on BA.com - https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...9-tests#before ). When you book, you will get a reference code - which is the code that UK Passport officials want to see (as 'proof' you're going to do the PCR test within 48 hours of landing) and you also need to enter the reference code on the UK Passenger Locator Form
3. Fill in the UK Passenger Locator Form - fill in a day or so before you fly
It's a couple of pages long (all the usual info - passport etc and you need to include the reference code for your PCR Test that you'll take within 48 hours of returning). The form is here: https://www.gov.uk/provide-journey-c...fore-travel-uk Once you submit it, you'll get an automated email with a QR code on it. You'll need to show it a few times to different officials.
The only other thing to add is that *everyone* wants to see your passport / test results / test bookings / passenger locator forms (check-in, passport officials, boarding plane officials...) so have them somewhere to hand.
Hope that helps!
Sam
1. Lateral Flow Test - in Tavira (within 72 hours of boarding your flight)
You need a Lateral Flow Test to board-the-plane / get through UK passport control (and everyone at the airport in PT wants to see it, too!). I have not been here yet (as only just learned about it) but am planning to in a couple of weeks when i go back to UK. But a friend of a friend recommended it - the Red Cross in Tavira:
Red Cross (a Cruz Vermelha, Largo do Carmo, 8800-311 Tavira, Tel: +351 281 323 473, [email protected] , you can book online: https://testescovidcvp.pt/ - it costs around €25. Take your passport with you! BTW, you can only take this test 72 hours before you board your flight, so bare that in mind.
2. *Book* a PCR Test to be done in first 48 hours back in UK
Then, you also need to have *booked* a PCR test to take within the first 48 hours of being back in the UK. - you'll need the reference code for the booking before they let you back in to the UK. I would just use a postal / do-it-at-home (Qured and Randox do them, I've used both - Randox is a tad cheaper (the Asda of testing, so customer support is more limited), Qured is a bit slicker (the Waitrose of Testing!) - there are a load of discount codes on BA.com - https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...9-tests#before ). When you book, you will get a reference code - which is the code that UK Passport officials want to see (as 'proof' you're going to do the PCR test within 48 hours of landing) and you also need to enter the reference code on the UK Passenger Locator Form
3. Fill in the UK Passenger Locator Form - fill in a day or so before you fly
It's a couple of pages long (all the usual info - passport etc and you need to include the reference code for your PCR Test that you'll take within 48 hours of returning). The form is here: https://www.gov.uk/provide-journey-c...fore-travel-uk Once you submit it, you'll get an automated email with a QR code on it. You'll need to show it a few times to different officials.
The only other thing to add is that *everyone* wants to see your passport / test results / test bookings / passenger locator forms (check-in, passport officials, boarding plane officials...) so have them somewhere to hand.
Hope that helps!
Sam
May 25th 2021, 10:23 am
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 44
Re: PCR, Antigen tests for flights to UK
PS - don't eat or drink for *30 mins before* you do the test (and don't brush your teeth during those 30 mins either), as it can effect the test result (making it positive, when it really isn't). It's in the small print of most of the tests, but most people miss it.
May 25th 2021, 10:49 am
#6
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Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Tavira
Posts: 329
Re: PCR, Antigen tests for flights to UK
I just went to the Red Cross in Tavira. They were excellent. Booked one for 2 days before my flight- 20 Euros, results will be emailed in one hour. Just received a confirmation email. It is only a 5 minute walk from my house!
May 25th 2021, 12:10 pm
#8
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 44
Re: PCR, Antigen tests for flights to UK
I think the short answer is 'yes'!
UK GVT says to ‘board the plane’ / the Lateral Flow Test must:
“meet performance standards of ≥ 97% specificity, ≥ 80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.”
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavi...vel-to-england
The Red Cross website says their Anti-Gen / Lateral Flow test has:
“specificity ≥ 97%” and "sensitivity ≥ 90%”
[‘Sensibilidade igual ou superior a 90% e Especificidade igual ou superior a 97%;’]
https://testescovidcvp.pt/testes-detecao-antigenio/
It should be more than fine.
I’ve done the trip (PT to UK) a few times in the last 2 months. When you land in the UK, the Passport officials look at this test email / certificate for 10 seconds - they look to check the passport number is the same as what’s on your test result document; and look for the word “negative’. [understandably, they’re definitely not looking at the specificity or sensitivity!]. That's the same as what the check-in staff do as well.
And then they look at the Passenger Locator Form for 10 seconds, to check that the reference number for your Day 2 PCR test is the same as what’s on your booking confirmation email from your PCR test provider.
@morro - let us know you get on with the Red Cross, as i've not done the test there before (but am planning on using it next time) if it's good.
UK GVT says to ‘board the plane’ / the Lateral Flow Test must:
“meet performance standards of ≥ 97% specificity, ≥ 80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.”
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavi...vel-to-england
The Red Cross website says their Anti-Gen / Lateral Flow test has:
“specificity ≥ 97%” and "sensitivity ≥ 90%”
[‘Sensibilidade igual ou superior a 90% e Especificidade igual ou superior a 97%;’]
https://testescovidcvp.pt/testes-detecao-antigenio/
It should be more than fine.
I’ve done the trip (PT to UK) a few times in the last 2 months. When you land in the UK, the Passport officials look at this test email / certificate for 10 seconds - they look to check the passport number is the same as what’s on your test result document; and look for the word “negative’. [understandably, they’re definitely not looking at the specificity or sensitivity!]. That's the same as what the check-in staff do as well.
And then they look at the Passenger Locator Form for 10 seconds, to check that the reference number for your Day 2 PCR test is the same as what’s on your booking confirmation email from your PCR test provider.
@morro - let us know you get on with the Red Cross, as i've not done the test there before (but am planning on using it next time) if it's good.
May 25th 2021, 3:33 pm
#11
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 24
Re: PCR, Antigen tests for flights to UK
I've just had to organise this for my worried elderly parents - it's a lot of admin! But this is what is what you need to do it (i've done it a fair few times now):
1. Lateral Flow Test - in Tavira (within 72 hours of boarding your flight)
You need a Lateral Flow Test to board-the-plane / get through UK passport control (and everyone at the airport in PT wants to see it, too!). I have not been here yet (as only just learned about it) but am planning to in a couple of weeks when i go back to UK. But a friend of a friend recommended it - the Red Cross in Tavira:
Red Cross (a Cruz Vermelha, Largo do Carmo, 8800-311 Tavira, Tel: +351 281 323 473, [email protected] , you can book online: https://testescovidcvp.pt/ - it costs around €25. Take your passport with you! BTW, you can only take this test 72 hours before you board your flight, so bare that in mind.
2. *Book* a PCR Test to be done in first 48 hours back in UK
Then, you also need to have *booked* a PCR test to take within the first 48 hours of being back in the UK. - you'll need the reference code for the booking before they let you back in to the UK. I would just use a postal / do-it-at-home (Qured and Randox do them, I've used both - Randox is a tad cheaper (the Asda of testing, so customer support is more limited), Qured is a bit slicker (the Waitrose of Testing!) - there are a load of discount codes on BA.com - https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...9-tests#before ). When you book, you will get a reference code - which is the code that UK Passport officials want to see (as 'proof' you're going to do the PCR test within 48 hours of landing) and you also need to enter the reference code on the UK Passenger Locator Form
3. Fill in the UK Passenger Locator Form - fill in a day or so before you fly
It's a couple of pages long (all the usual info - passport etc and you need to include the reference code for your PCR Test that you'll take within 48 hours of returning). The form is here: https://www.gov.uk/provide-journey-c...fore-travel-uk Once you submit it, you'll get an automated email with a QR code on it. You'll need to show it a few times to different officials.
The only other thing to add is that *everyone* wants to see your passport / test results / test bookings / passenger locator forms (check-in, passport officials, boarding plane officials...) so have them somewhere to hand.
Hope that helps!
Sam
1. Lateral Flow Test - in Tavira (within 72 hours of boarding your flight)
You need a Lateral Flow Test to board-the-plane / get through UK passport control (and everyone at the airport in PT wants to see it, too!). I have not been here yet (as only just learned about it) but am planning to in a couple of weeks when i go back to UK. But a friend of a friend recommended it - the Red Cross in Tavira:
Red Cross (a Cruz Vermelha, Largo do Carmo, 8800-311 Tavira, Tel: +351 281 323 473, [email protected] , you can book online: https://testescovidcvp.pt/ - it costs around €25. Take your passport with you! BTW, you can only take this test 72 hours before you board your flight, so bare that in mind.
2. *Book* a PCR Test to be done in first 48 hours back in UK
Then, you also need to have *booked* a PCR test to take within the first 48 hours of being back in the UK. - you'll need the reference code for the booking before they let you back in to the UK. I would just use a postal / do-it-at-home (Qured and Randox do them, I've used both - Randox is a tad cheaper (the Asda of testing, so customer support is more limited), Qured is a bit slicker (the Waitrose of Testing!) - there are a load of discount codes on BA.com - https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...9-tests#before ). When you book, you will get a reference code - which is the code that UK Passport officials want to see (as 'proof' you're going to do the PCR test within 48 hours of landing) and you also need to enter the reference code on the UK Passenger Locator Form
3. Fill in the UK Passenger Locator Form - fill in a day or so before you fly
It's a couple of pages long (all the usual info - passport etc and you need to include the reference code for your PCR Test that you'll take within 48 hours of returning). The form is here: https://www.gov.uk/provide-journey-c...fore-travel-uk Once you submit it, you'll get an automated email with a QR code on it. You'll need to show it a few times to different officials.
The only other thing to add is that *everyone* wants to see your passport / test results / test bookings / passenger locator forms (check-in, passport officials, boarding plane officials...) so have them somewhere to hand.
Hope that helps!
Sam
May 25th 2021, 7:13 pm
#12
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Joined: Nov 2017
Location: Porches, Algarve
Posts: 348
Re: PCR, Antigen tests for flights to UK
The Red Cross option looks good, there's one in Faro too. When they send the results certificate is it in English? According to gov.uk they will only accept English, French or Spanish.
May 25th 2021, 7:34 pm
#13
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 44
Re: PCR, Antigen tests for flights to UK
>>>PRECISO DE UMA DECLARAÇÃO EM INGLÊS. É POSSÍVEL?
>>>Sim, é possível. Enviamos sempre a declaração em português e inglês.
May 26th 2021, 6:49 am
#15
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Posts: 1,705