Order coronavirus (COVID-19) rapid lateral flow tests
A pack of tests contains 7 tests. You can order one pack per household each day
Who this service is for
You can only use this service if:
- you do not have coronavirus symptoms
- you live in England
- you’re 18 or older
- you have not been told to self-isolate
- you cannot get tests from your work, school, college or university (ask them for rapid lateral flow tests)
Do not use a rapid lateral flow test if you have coronavirus symptoms. Get a PCR test and self-isolate. If you’re not sure, you can find out which coronavirus test you should get
Ordering for someone else
If you’re ordering for another household, for example a relative in your bubble, you should:
- do it separately from your household order
- use their contact details
Other ways to get a rapid lateral flow test
You can also:
- find a pharmacy where you can collect tests
- find a local site to get tested at
- find a local site where you can collect tests
- get tests from your employer (if you cannot work from home)
When collecting packs of tests, you can collect 2 packs at a time (14 tests in total).
Order by phone
If you cannot order online, call 119.
Lines are open 7am to 11pm and calls are free.
After your test packs arrive
You should:
- take a rapid lateral flow test twice a week (every 3 or 4 days)
- report rapid lateral flow test results the day you or someone in your household takes the test
Children who go to primary school or younger children do not need to test.
If a test result is positive
If you or anyone in your household tests positive, everyone in the household must:
- self-isolate immediately
- get a PCR test to confirm the result (a PCR test is a different type of coronavirus test)
How rapid lateral flow tests work
Around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 do not have symptoms.
Rapid lateral flow tests help to find cases in people who may have no symptoms but are still infectious and can give the virus to others.
The test usually involves taking a sample from your tonsils (or where they would have been) and from your nose, using a swab. You can get a result in 30 minutes.
