UK Airport Testing

Aberdeen Airport https://www.aberdeenairport.com/coronavirus/

East Midlands See Manchester Airports Group information

Edinburgh Airport https://www.edinburghairport.com/flysafe/testing-at-the-airport

Liverpool Airport https://www.liverpoolairport.com/fit-to-fly

London City airport (info correct as of 6 Jan 21) How does it work? Collinson is carrying out four types of tests at the airport located in the heart of London – antibody, antigen, LAMP and PCR. Passengers will need to book their test at collinsongroup.com before setting off for the airport.

Location and opening hours? The departures hall in the Main Terminal. Open Monday-Friday from 1030-1700.

How much does it cost and how long do results take? Antibody test costs £40, with results available within 45 minutes. Antigen test costs £50, with results available within 45 minutes. LAMP test costs £79, with results available in 90 minutes. PCR test costs £99, with results available within 48 hours. www.londoncityairport.com

London Gatwick (info correct as of 6 Jan 21) How does it work? The airport is providing an ‘Express Test’ service for passengers, staff and local residents. The centre will carry out PCR tests, with customers are advised to schedule a test 48-96 hours prior to their departure flight. Tests can be booked at expresstest.co.uk , and customers will be sent a QR to take along to the appointment. It is also possible to get a test at Boots (pre-booking required), while the airport’s Hilton and Sofitel hotels are offering “Test and Rest” packages that include PCR self-testing.

Location and opening hours? Express Test is located at the South Terminal’s long-stay car park. Open daily from 0800-2000. Boots offers tests at its South Terminal arrivals branch. See time slots online.

How much does it cost and how long do results take? The results are available typically by 10pm the following day. £99 for the general public and £60 for passengers and Gatwick employees. Discount of up to 30 per cent for groups of four or more. Boots charges £120, with results available in 48 hours. www.gatwickairport.com

London Heathrow Airport (info correct as of 6 Jan 21) How does it work? The UK airport has partnered with Collinson to offer four types of tests – antibody, antigen, LAMP and PCR. Passengers will need to set up an account and book their test online at collinsongroup.com before beginning their journey to the airport. The sample is processed onsite by staff from one of Collinson’s biotech partners, Prenetics.

Heathrow has also partnered with Express Test to set up a drive-through PCR facility. Travellers should schedule a test 48-72 hours prior to their departure time and those who screen negative will be emailed a “Fit to Fly” certificate authorised by a doctor, plus their test result. Tests can be booked at expresstest.co.uk and customers will be sent a QR code to show alongside their passport or employee ID.

Location and opening hours? The LAMP testing is carried out by Collinson nurses at Terminals 2 and 5. See available time slots online. The drive-through Express Test centre is located at the airport’s N4 car park off Bath Road. Open daily from 0800-2000

How much does it cost and how long do results take? Collinson tests: Antibody test costs £40, with results available within 45 minutes. Antigen test costs £50, with results available within 45 minutes. LAMP test costs £79, with results available in 90 minutes. PCR test costs £99, with results available within 48 hours. The Express Test PCR test costs £80 for passengers, £60 for Heathrow staff, and £99 for the general public, with results typically by 2200 the following day.

Heathrow also offers other tests – see below for tests and prices https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/fly-safe/covid-19-test

London Luton Airport (info correct as of 6 Jan 21) How does it work? Luton has also partnered with Collinson to open a drive-through screening facility offering four types of tests – antibody, antigen, LAMP and PCR. Passengers will need to book their test at collinsongroup.com before setting off for the airport.

Location and opening hours? The drive-through is open daily from 0900-1700 in the mid-term car park.

London Stansted See Manchester Airports Group information

Manchester Airports Group (info correct as of 6 Jan 21) East Midlands Airport /London Stansted Airport / Manchester Airport

How does it work? The UK’s largest airport group has partnered with Collinson to offer four types of test to inbound and outbound passengers at Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports.

The group also offers passengers five per cent off pre-departure RT-PCR tests at selected Boots stores, which customers can access through the airport’s website. The airport’s online booking portal allows passengers to choose the correct test for their specific requirements, stating that this might be at the airport or at one of the Boots stores across the UK.

Location and opening hours? East Midlands airport: Meet and Greet Car Park Office. London Stansted airport: Adjacent to WH Smith in Arrivals. Manchester airport: Terminal 1 Meet and Greet Office. All open 0700-1900 daily.

How much does it cost and how long do results take? It depends which test you opt for: Antibody test costs £40, with results available within 45 minutes. Antigen test costs £50, with results available within 45 minutes. LAMP test costs £79, with results available in 90 minutes. PCR test costs £99, with results available within 48 hours. https://www.eastmidlandsairport.com/coronavirus/testing/ https://www.stanstedairport.com/coronavirus/testing/ https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/coronavirus/departure-testing/

Newcastle Airport (info correct as of 6Jan21) How does it work? The airport has partnered with local companies NPH Group and MDNA Life Sciences to provide pre- departure PCR testing services. Travellers must book online here and reserve a slot.

Location and opening hours? Premium Meet and Greet building at the airport. See available time slots online.

How much does it cost and how long do results take? The test costs £99 (with parking at the airport included), with results available within 36-48 hours. www.newcastleairport.com

International Testing

Lufthansa have some information on their website about options for testing abroad: https://www.lufthansa.com/de/en/corona-testcenter

Further information on international airports can be found via https://www.businesstraveller.com/features/which-airports-are-offering-covid-19-tests/

Skyteam also have a search facility on their website allowing you to find a test centre across the world https://www.skyteam.com/en

Airlines Offering Testing

Airlines offering discounted Covid tests (valid at 17 Feb 21) https://www.businesstraveller.com/features/these-airlines-are-offering-discounted-covid-tests/

Hotels Offering Testing

Some hotels are offering Covid testing (valid at 26 Jan 21) https://www.businesstraveller.com/features/which-hotels-are-offering-tests/

Different types of testing explained

RT-PCR Testing is the most sensitive test that is currently available, able to detect active infection some days before the patient is infectious or symptomatic. PCR testing takes around five hours to be performed, but as assays sometimes have to be repeated, a turnaround time of 24 hours is often given. PCR testing is performed in machines than cycle through different temperatures. As the process of changing temperature takes some time, the process is longer than other processes such as LAMP.

LAMP Testing is another form of genetic test, able to detect the RNA of the virus. It is a more recent development than PCR and is performed all at one temperature. It is generally faster and cheaper than PCR but is not considered to be as sensitive – but is still more sensitive than antigen testing. LAMP tests might be able to detect patients immediately before symptoms are displayed but this is unsure at present. Rapid LAMP testing can add a significant degree of confidence if performed before flying, for example, when all aboard have had a LAMP test prior to departure.

Antigen Testing is the fastest and cheapest of all lab tests for Covid-19. Unlike PCR and LAMP, the genetic material of the virus is not searched for, but rather the protein structures on a virally infected cell produced by Covid-19; usually the so-called ‘spike’ protein. Antigen tests often become positive after having had symptoms for a couple of days. Their use is particularly powerful when patients are attending communal events and a quick check needs to be performed to see if attendees are infectious with Covid-19. Also, during winter months, when people often have symptoms of the common cold or flu, performing an antigen test will ascertain whether the condition is the coronavirus or not.

Serology Testing (or antibody) testing is a blood test that identifies the presence of antibodies manufactured by the body in response to infection by Covid-19. A positive test for IgM antibodies indicates that the patient may have been recently infected, and their immune system has started to respond to the virus. This type of test is required for most passengers entering China.

Which Covid-19 tests allow you to travel (valid at 15 Nov 20) https://www.businesstraveller.com/features/which-tests-allow-you-to-travel/