There are many different reasons why you may want to have a RT-PCR COVID-19 or a rapid antigen test e.g. for travel or work. Our in-lab COVID-19 testing service is a convenient way to get a test to check for a current COVID-19 infection.

Please note that this service is not suitable for anyone with symptoms of COVID-19, or anyone who thinks they may have COVID-19. Please do not book an appointment or come to your sample collection appointment if you or anyone in your household/support bubble have symptoms of COVID-19. Please also do not book or attend your sample collection appointment if you have been told to isolate after contact with a person that has tested positive for COVID-19. Instead stay at home and follow the latest government guidance.

To book, please call our offices on 0191 543 9302.

After this, you’ll receive a confirmation email of your appointment. Full payment will be taken when you attend your appointment your sample collection appointment at our lab. Pre-payment can be made after your appointment, your swab will be sent to our laboratory for testing. You will receive a sample receipt email shortly after your appointment which will state you case reference number and your expected results due date.

PCR stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction. It is a test that has been specifically designed to detect the presence of the genetic material of the COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2). Genetic material of the virus will only be detected if the individual is actively infected with the virus. The test is sensitive enough to detect the virus at the very early stages of an infection and towards the end. The test does this by detecting viral RNA (ribonucleic acid) which is present in the body before the onset of symptoms or antibodies. The PCR testis the Gold Standard for determining which individuals are infected and those that are not.

Yes. You can add people to your booking or schedule them in for a different time and/or date.

For under 16-year-olds, a person with Parental Responsibility must attend the sample collection appointment to sign consent on behalf of that child. Results will also be sent to this person with Parental Responsibility.

If you are travelling abroad, please check the COVID test requirements specified by your destination country, airline carrier and accommodation before booking in for a test. Please be conscious that each county has its own entry requirements. Up to date guidance can be found for each destination, including entry requirements by visiting https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Requirements to check for include:

1. What type of test do they accept?

E.g. PCR (nucleic acid test), Rapid Antigen Test/Lateral Flow Test, LAMP etc.

1. Within what time frame must you be tested for the test to be valid?

E.g. within 24, 48 or 72 hour of arrival or departure

1. Are there any other specific requirements or other documents you need signing from us?

E.g. QR code

E.g. Japan have their own report template (Certificate of Testing for COVID-19) for the results of the test which has been issued by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japanese Government

Option 1: For standard next day results, the price of the service is £72 (including VAT). This is for sample collections before 12:30, Monday – Thursday. Results are issued the next working day usually between 16:00-18:00.

Option 2: For express same day results, the price of the service is £144 (including VAT). This is available to those who have a sample collection appointment before 10:30 on any given weekday. Results are usually issued between 16:00-18:00. Please note that we do not operate on weekends so on Fridays all sample collections must be before 10:30 to ensure results are delivered before the weekend.

Please bring the following to your sample collection appointment:

• Valid form of photographic ID (passport for Fit to Fly and Test to Release).
• Wear a facemask unless you are exempt
• Payment – card (debit or credit) is preferred but you may pay by cash if you have the exact amount.

The appointment will take about 10 minutes. In this time, we will verify your identity, have you complete a personal details and consent form, collect the sample for testing, and take payment.

• Full name as on passport
• Passport number
• Time and date of sampling
• Sample type
• Test result
• RT-PCR assay used in the laboratory
• Address and contact details of our laboratory
• Signature of the report approver at our laboratory
• Signature of sampler
• Scan of your ID (for verification purposes)
• Date of report issue
• Interpreting your results table

It is possible that residual genetic material (RNA) of the virus causing COVID-19 can still be detected by PCR tests for up to 90 days after injection.

Due to the sensitivity of PCR tests, there is a very small chance the test result could be returned as unclear. If a test result is unclear it is not possible to say if the person being tested had the virus at the time of testing and a retest is required.

All unclear and positive results are confirmed by a second and extraction and PCR.

Your coronavirus (COVID-19) test result is negative. You did not have the virus when the test was done.

You are not required to quarantine or take a day 8 test if you are travelling from a country not on the red list and meet the requirements of being an ‘eligible’ traveller.

If you are travelling from a country not on the red list and are not an ‘eligible’ traveller, if you took the test on or before day 2 of your quarantine period, you must continue to quarantine until you have completed the 10-day quarantine period and received a negative result for a test taken on day 8. If you took the test on day 8, you may stop quarantining when you have completed your 10-day quarantine period.

You should self-isolate again if you get symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) – get an NHS coronavirus (COVID-19) test from www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test and self-isolate until you get the results.

For advice on when you might need to self-isolate and what to do, go to www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19 and read ‘Self-isolation and treating symptoms’.

Your coronavirus test result is positive. You had the virus when the test was done.

If you received a positive test result for the test taken you do not need to take any further tests.

You may be contacted for contact tracing and to check that you, and those who you live or are travelling with, are self-isolating.

You must not travel, including to leave the UK, during self-isolation.

Contact 111 if you need medical help. In an emergency dial 999.

Your coronavirus test result is unclear. It is not possible to say if you had the virus when the test was done.

You must take another test or self-isolate for 10 days from the day after your test date.

You may be contacted to check that you are self-isolating.

Your test report will be issued via email on your results due date as soon as it is available. This is usually between 16:00-18:00.

On the rare occasion your test report may be issued after 18:00 but please know that your report will be issued on your results due date.