Apr 28th, 2021
7 mins
If you’re in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland and have any of the symptoms of coronavirus, you can ask for a test through the NHS website. If you’re an essential worker in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can apply for priority testing through GOV.UK by following the guidance on testing for essential workers. You can also get tested through this route if you have symptoms.
You can get a swab test to check if you currently have coronavirus. This is part of the 5-pillar strategy for coronavirus testing. Testing is most effective within 3 days of symptoms developing.
Anyone with symptoms can get a coronavirus test, whatever their age. Get a coronavirus test as soon as you have symptoms
If you do not have symptoms, you can:
- ask your employer or place of study if they provide tests
- find where to collect test kits or get a test at a test site
- order rapid lateral flow home test kits online
Find out about regular rapid tests if you do not have symptoms on NHS.UK
Testing in Scotland
Free, fast and regular testing for people who do not have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) is available to everyone in Scotland.
The test mainly being used for people without symptoms is an LFD test. Everyone in Scotland can do this type of test twice a week if you:
- do not have coronavirus symptoms
- have not been told to self-isolate
You need to be aged 18 or over to collect or order the test kits. Anyone aged 12 to 17 should ask an adult to collect or order a test kit for them. They should then self-test and report their result under adult supervision. We do not recommend regular testing for children who go to primary school, or who are younger than primary school age.
You should not get a LFD test if you:
- have tested positive for coronavirus in the last 90 days
- need to take a test for international travel
Testing in Wales
In Wales, you can get lateral flow tests for you and your household if you volunteer or cannot work from home.
If you get tests through your employer or education setting you should continue to do so.
Order rapid lateral flow home test kits on GOV.UK. You can order 1 home testing kit (7 tests) at a time. Delivery takes 1 to 2 days.
You can also collect testing kits in person. Find your nearest collection point and opening times (on nhs.uk). You can collect 2 home testing kits (14 tests) at a time.
You should test twice a week, 3 to 4 days apart. Please report rapid lateral flow test results (on GOV.UK) the day you or someone in your household takes the test.
If your test is positive you should book a PCR test within 24 hours of the positive lateral flow test result.
Wider COVID-19 community testing is currently available in certain areas. Everyone who lives in these areas can get regular rapid COVID-19 tests.
Testing in Northern Ireland
Anyone who develops the symptoms of COVID-19 is advised immediately to book a test and isolate until the results are known.
If your test is positive you will have to isolate for a total of 10 days.
You need to get the test done as soon as possible in the first eight days of having symptoms.
On days one to seven, you can get tested at a test site or at home. If you’re ordering a home test kit on day seven, do it by 3.00 pm.
On day eight, you need to go to a test site – it’s too late to order a home test kit.
You can complete an online form at the following link to find out if you should or should not get tested, and if you should, what type of test you will need. Should I get tested for coronavirus (COVID-19)?
