Covid Test? Any visiting BRITS on here?
 

Visiting friends are returning to England soon.
Is there a different test required for USA residents going over there, versus Brits on vacation here, who are returning to England?
Looks like it's an "ANTIGEN/Lateral Flow Test' but it's unclear as to which is mandatory,
an "At Home/Do It Yourself' test or a 'Accredited Vendor' test.
Any help in clarifying what I am asking or providing an answer will be appreciated.

An accredited test, anyone can take a home test no documentation paper trail

Latest entry requirements.

Travel to England from another country during coronavirus (COVID-19) - GOV.UK

It says "take a COVID-19 test – to be taken in the 2 days before you travel to England."
The confusion is that one is "At the airport (or a paid vendor) tested in an on-site lab.
But some say that the 'At Home' Lateral flow" which is not sent in will suffice!

Proof for non-EU residents and citizens

You must provide the original test result notification. Your test result must be in either English, French or Spanish. Translations will not be accepted.
Your test result can be provided as:

a printed document
an email or text message you can show on your phone - make sure your device is charged

It must include the following information:

your name, which should match the name on your travel documents
your date of birth or age
the result of the test
the date the test sample was collected or received by the test provider
the name of the test provider and their contact details
confirmation of the device used for the test, or that the test was a PCR test.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing before you travel to England - GOV.UK

You must take a COVID-19 test before you travel to England from abroad.

You must take the test in the 2 days before your service to England departs.

Type of test

The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.

This could include tests such as:

a nucleic acid test, including a PCR test
a LAMP test
an antigen test, such as an LFD (lateral flow device) test

You must check with your test provider that the test meets the standards. You may not be able to travel if it does not.

The test could be:

a face-to-face or in-person test
a self-administered test with video or photo verification

PS. If however you arrive in Dover in a rubber dinghy, no documentation of any description is required, and accommodation, food, free cell phone. medical services etc. will be supplied free of charge.
Come and join us! :coolsmiley:

My British buddies have taken an PCR test from CVS or Walgreens.

I meant to tell you the test cost them about 130 USD

We are Brits, returning to U.K. end of Jan. At the moment if vaccinated it’s an Antigen test but not the DIY type. Must be from an accredited source as proof required by airline before boarding must have documentation with name, age, passport info, date/time of test & where it was done. I heard other Brits used Rolling Acres Walgreens early Dec & it was free with all required paperwork given. Check U.K. Gov for any updates though as rules seem to change with little notice. They also need to show purchase of a day 2 test once back in the U.K. That info will be required on their Passenger Locator Form that their airline will also ask for.

Airline
 

Call the airline they are flying on.

Returning on Airline=Virgin Atlantic to England
 

Called them at 1-800-862-8621.
Message says "We can't answer COVID questions. Check our website."
The question is "Is the 'At Home Lateral Flow' test which we have, sufficient for a fully vaccinated citizen returning to England?"

Why not call the British embassy?

I my book. No.
It is just your word for the result.
They want an authenticated test.
Get the PCR test. No arguments with that.

Why not call the British Embassy in Washington and ask?