For those of us "felons" who dare to travel to the UK in these COVID times, and are seeking early remission on the grounds of good behaviour from our 10 day sentence in solitary confinement (aka Quarantine) the UK Government helpfully provides a very extensive list of Test-to-Release providers
https://assets.publishing.service.go...21.csv/preview

Unfortunately it does not provide a list of costs, as it does for the days 2+8 tests, and it is not particularly obvious from many of the individual websites.

For those who have used Test-To-Release:
(1) which provider did you use
(2) what is the cost?
(3) were they reliable ie do you recommend?

Thanks

I opted not to do the day 5 test to release but am using Oncologica for the 2 and 8 day tests, for which I paid £200 including courier delivery and collection. Day 2 test arrived the day before I was due to take it and collected the day after, result available within 24 hours of the courier collecting it. Day 8 should arrive tomorrow for use on Saturday, I am hoping they collect on Sundays which will mean I am free on Tuesday.

They do offer the test to release and I think their prices are available on their website. I will travel to them for my fit to fly test. Not the cheapest but closest to where I am, so for me good. Happy so far.

After a lot of Google searching, I managed to find a site where you can enter your UK postcode and get a list of local Test to Release providers, along with prices and guaranteed result times. I can't find the site again unfortunately.

By way of example, I used Concepto Clinic in Watford; cost £149 and I got the result the same day after an 8:30 appointment.

I think you are allowed to break quarantine to post the test kit - at least that's what I understood from the leaflet packed into the kit, which tells you how to find a priority postbox and what to do if you can't get there yourself. If you test yourself early on Saturday and post it straight away, you should get the result and be out of quarantine on Sunday morning.

Actually I'm wrong, aren't I? Saturday is only day 8, so getting the result on Sunday is of no practical use.

It's strange that with Test to Release on day 5, they let you leave quarantine as soon as you get the result, whereas with the test on day 8 you still have to wait another two days.

One provider you should NOT use is Screen4. They never provided the test results and were unreachable via phone and email so I had to sit through the whole quarantine despite paying 135 for the test.

I used a place in Sunningdale www.privategpclinic.co.uk which has now increased its price to £150 but gives results same day usually. You go there personally. Efficient service they have car park just off A30. My friend used the place at Heathrow both gave results same day. Not done postal one.

Any recommendations for Day 5 test to release providers in the Gt London area? I arrive on Sunday, therefore Friday would be my Day 5 and I am hoping to get the result ASAP (and not 48hrs later like some are claiming it could be).

My thoughts are an in-person test so I don't lose a day posting the sample or get tied up in weekend delays.

Cheers

Look for a Boots near’ish where you’ll be, I took day 5 at 8:50 Friday am, result arrived 8:47 Saturday

I took and posted day 2 test on day 1 allowing me an extended walk to a red RM express box. On day 2 I went out “to post my day 2 test” knowing if they called they had no way to know it was already done on day 1.

Wouldn't they know because it would have arrived on Day 2?

Collinson at LCY airport, results by EOD

violation of rules

I asked this myself, caller on day 4 had no access to test results, told me that being able to prove test result useful if visited…

It is beyond me how the tracking number on Passenger Locater form that should be connected to tests is having any more immediate purpose than to create fear

I decided to go with this outfit as they have a test center conveniently near my parent's (@Brent Cross shopping centre, NW London).

It's £189 for the 3 test package (day 2, day 5 *early release* and day 8) and they endeavor to have your results by 10pm the following day.

We purchased a Day 2, 5 and 8 test package from Randox as we could then drop it off at a collection point near where we were quarantining. Just bear in mind that the Day 5 test won't be posted to you until Day 4, at least that's what we were told by them as it was the law.

By Day 5 morning our test kit never came so I called to find out what was going on. I never got through so scrambled to find another solution which was a medical center that could take us that same day (many were 1-3 days later). Later that day we received an email from Randox saying that due to some unforeseen delays our Day 5 kit was delayed but would come on Day 6 -- not much use and too late communication.

On top of this, Randox's turn-around was 24h and for Day 2 and Day 8 it was pretty darn close to that. The medical center, while pricey, got us the results by 8am the next morning.

This is precisely why I am choosing to do my tests in person as opposed to by post. The latter would be so much simpler and quicker but I've heard similar stories of samples getting lost or delayed in the post.

I guess the cabinets friends have the contracts for this testing. It really makes little sense otherwise.