The government will no longer provide free universal Covid-19 testing for most of the British public from 1 April, as part of its plan for living with the virus.
While people can currently still order lateral flow tests for free via the government’s website, this will come to an end next week.
From the start of April, Covid tests will only be available commercially. The government said it is “working with retailers to ensure that everyone who wants can buy a test”.
Some retailers, including Boots and Superdrug are already selling lateral flow tests, with prices starting at £1.99.
Here is everything you need to know about getting lateral flow tests after 1 April.
Where can I buy a lateral flow test and how much will it cost?
Boots and Superdrug already have LFTs for sale.
Boots is selling a single test for £2, a pack of two LFTs for £3.95 and a pack of five for £9.80.
Superdrug is selling a single test for £1.99.
Asif Aziz, director of healthcare services at Boots UK, said: “We are pleased to be expanding our Covid-19 testing services even further, with affordable lateral flow testing options for those who still want peace of mind from asymptomatic testing after 1 April.
“While it is great that we are returning to normal and finding a way to live with Covid-19, we encourage our customers and patients to stay safe and continue to take measures to limit the spread of the virus, especially to those in vulnerable groups.”
Boots said it will offer lateral flow tests in more than 400 stores.
According to British Airways’ list of approved Covid test suppliers for travel purposes, at-home lateral flow test kits provided by companies such as Randox, Eurofins, Medicspot and Breathe Assured can range from £9.96 to £20.16.
Can I still get free lateral flow tests?
Yes, but the government has restricted orders of free lateral flow test kits to one pack of seven tests every three days. Previously, people were able to order a free kit every 24 hours.
Why will lateral flow tests no longer be free?
The government has provided more than two billion lateral flow tests to the British public for free since 2020. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the system has cost £15.7 billion in this financial year and £2 billion in January alone, adding that the government “must now scale this back”.
Ministers have pressed the government to reveal whether or not the price of lateral flow tests will be fixed, and warned that some of the most vulnerable people will have to choose between food, heating, or paying for a test.
Lord leader Baroness Evans of Bowes Park said: “We are going to be working with retailers to establish and develop a private market for lateral flow tests. Private markets have operated in the US and many European countries for some time now.
“Retailers will be setting the price but we will be ensuring that the private testing market is properly regulated, including monitoring prices charged, and we will of course continue to work with UK companies in developing lateral flow tests."
Lady Evans added that free symptomatic testing will continue being available for those at highest risk of Covid and social care staff. She said that further details will be released after 31 March.
