If you want to get tested, but you're not eligible for COVID-19 treatment, you'll need to pay for the test yourself.

You can buy COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests from some pharmacies and retailers.

Why a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test is done

A rapid lateral flow test is done to check if you have COVID-19.

If you’re eligible for COVID-19 treatments, you’ll need to take a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test if you have any symptoms of COVID-19.

Who can get a free COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test

Most people cannot get COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests for free from the NHS.

You may be able to get free COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests if you’re aged 12 or over and you're eligible for COVID-19 treatment because you’re at highest risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19.

Show people at highest risk

You may be at highest risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 if you:

are aged 85 years or over
have end-stage heart failure and have a long-term ventricular assistance device
are resident in a care home and are aged 70 years or over
are resident in a care home and have a BMI of 35 or more, or have diabetes or heart failure
have Down's syndrome, or another chromosomal condition that affects your immune system
have certain types of cancer, or had treatment for certain types of cancer
have sickle cell disease
have certain conditions affecting your blood, including some types of blood cancer
have chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4 or 5, including people on dialysis
have severe liver disease
have had an organ transplant or are on the organ transplant waiting list
have certain autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease
have HIV or AIDS and have a weakened immune system
have a condition affecting your immune system
have a condition affecting the brain or nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, motor neurone disease, myasthenia gravis, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease or certain types of dementia
have certain lung conditions or treatments for lung conditions

This list is a summary and does not cover everything.

If you're unsure if you are eligible, speak to your GP or hospital specialist who can advise you.

Find out more about people at the highest risk who are eligible for COVID-19 treatment on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) website.

How to get a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test if you’re at highest risk

You can get free COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests from a pharmacy if you’re eligible for COVID-19 treatments because you’re at highest risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19.

You'll need to tell the pharmacy your:

name
address
date of birth
medical condition

If you've been sent a letter or email from the NHS about COVID-19 treatments, you should show this at the pharmacy to help confirm your eligibility.

If someone is collecting COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests for you, they will also need to give their name and address.

Find a pharmacy that offers free COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests

How to get a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test if you work in certain healthcare settings

If you work in certain healthcare settings, you may be able to get free COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests. This will depend on your job role and if you have symptoms of COVID-19.

Speak to your employer about how to get a test.

How to do a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test

How you do a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test depends on the test kit you’re using.

COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests use either a:

throat and nose swab (like a cotton bud)
nose swab only

The test you have might be different to one you've done before. It's important to read the instructions carefully and check the expiry date to make sure the test is still in date before starting.

Preparing for the test

Follow the instructions given in the test kit about how to prepare for the test. Including about washing your hands and blowing your nose.

Doing the test

If your test uses a throat and nose swab:

open your mouth wide and rub the swab over both your tonsils at the back of your throat, or where they would have been if you’ve had them removed – do this 4 times on each side
using the same swab wipe the inside of your nose, as explained in the test kit instructions

If your test uses a nose swab only:

wipe the inside of your nose with the swab, as explained in the test kit instructions

Completing the test

To complete the test:

put the end of the swab into the tube so it's in the liquid and swirl the swab around as explained in the test kit instructions, then close the lid
squeeze some drops of liquid from the tube onto the test strip (the test kit instructions tell you how many drops)
wait for the time shown in your test kit instructions
read your result

Do not leave the test longer than the waiting time given in the test kit instructions, as this can affect the result.

More information

GOV.UK: how to do a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test

COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test results

COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests show the result on the testing device within a few minutes.

You do not need to report the result from a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test if you live in England, whatever the result.

What your COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test result means

Positive test result

If you get a positive COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test result, it means it’s very likely you have COVID-19.

If you test positive for COVID-19, try to stay home and avoid meeting people for:

3 days after the day the test was taken if you’re under 18 years – children and young people tend to be infectious for less time than adults
5 days after the day you took your test if you’re aged 18 or over

Try to wait 10 days after the day you took your test before meeting anyone who is more likely to get seriously ill from viruses, such as someone with a weakened immune system.

If you test positive and you're eligible for COVID-19 treatments, call your GP surgery, NHS 111 or hospital specialist as soon as possible.

Negative test result

If you get a negative COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test result, it means it's unlikely you have COVID-19.

There's still a chance you could have the virus, so you should follow the advice on how to avoid catching and spreading COVID-19.

If you test negative and you’re eligible for COVID-19 treatments, you need to do a total of 3 rapid lateral flow tests over 3 days (1 test a day) if you continue to have COVID-19 symptoms.

Test result could not be read

If your test result could not be read, it’s not possible to say if you had COVID-19 when the test was done. Some tests may call this a void result.

Do another test as soon as possible.

COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test