Returning to the USA from UK
 

I'll be returning to the USA on Tuesday after a couple of weeks visiting family in the UK, during which time I tested positive for Covid. After 10+ days, I'm now testing negative on at-home lateral flow tests. Does anyone have any experience of Covid testing at Heathrow airport? There seem to be a range of tests available, of which I believe I need a PCR test for the USA, is that correct? I need to be sure to receive the tests the same day - my flight is early on Tuesday morning, so I'm planning to go to the airport the day before to complete the test. An alternative would be testing at a nearby hotel, since I'll need to stay near the airport to catch my early morning flight. Again, wondering if anyone has experience of this option - it looks like testing is available at Sofitel, for example. Thanks in advance!

Re: Returning to the USA from UK
 

The Express Test company has location at airport and several locations in London including some train stations, Airport i noticed long lines.

Re: Returning to the USA from UK
 

Last I heard, antigen tests were acceptable, and you can do one at home as long as it's supervised via video link - Qured does this service (I'm sure others do too, but I've used Qured and they were great).

So unless things have changed very recently, you don't need to do a PCR (thankfully, as you're likely to still be testing positive on those!).

HTH.

Re: Returning to the USA from UK
 

Thanks! Not sure a test from Qured would arrive in time? And also whether it would be a good idea to find a healthcare provider for a documentation of recovery - the information on the CDC website is as follows:

What You Need to Know

• If you plan to travel internationally, you will need to get a COVID-19 viral test (regardless of vaccination status or citizenship) no more than 1 day before you travel by air into the United States. You must show your negative result to the airline before you board your flight.
• If you recently recovered from COVID-19, you may instead travel with documentation of recovery from COVID-19 (i.e., your positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel).

Re: Returning to the USA from UK
 

Order the Qurex. I think I paid £25. It ships Fedex. If you get the order in today, it will be there for Monday. Video supervision is not necessary.

I did mine 2 weeks ago. No problem with it and it was accepted by the airline.

Re: Returning to the USA from UK
 

Good to know, thanks - I just ordered a test! :thumbup:

Re: Returning to the USA from UK
 

The CDC requirements say otherwise for self tests.

Re: Returning to the USA from UK
 

I traveled to the UK for Christmas. For our return, we did the Qured video supervised test.

I went back 2 weeks ago. This time, I used the Qured test without supervision. The first one did state it was supervised in line with CDC requirements. The second does not. They were both accepted by the airline (Virgin) without question.

If the OP has doubts, they can request a video appointment. I don't think it costs any more.

Re: Returning to the USA from UK
 

I ordered the Qured rapid antigen test for £18 and added a video consultation for £11. The test is currently showing as arriving today, and I've booked the video consultation for Monday so (fingers crossed) I'm good to go. Thanks so much to all for your help!

Re: Returning to the USA from UK
 

Used Expresstest 2 weeks ago. In person at Victoria as I was on route to LHR. Booked the test online while standing outside their testing location, was then in and out in 3 minutes, no one else there. Headed to LHR and got results email before I got the LHR.

Re: Returning to the USA from UK
 

Last journey back I allowed five hours to do my test at the airport. I was unlucky, test was contaminated and had to be repeated, and although they said they’d expedite the new test it wasn’t returned in time. I had to book a new set of flights home and a hotel to bridge the overnight delay at my own cost.
it happens. Husband took test at same time and took the original flights home alone.

Re: Returning to the USA from UK
 

I travelled back last month from LHR, and antigen tests are perfectly acceptable, and you can get them done outside of terminals 3 and 5,with Express testing, and they'll email u the result in 30-40 mins. There was a long line though, so you'd need to allow an extra hour just for that !