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Where to get cheap Covid tests
Come down with cold or flu-type symptoms?
You may want to use a lateral flow test (LFT) to check whether it's Covid-19 or not.
Most people aren't entitled to free Covid tests any more, so we've rounded up where you can buy the cheapest Covid tests yourself.
We've also done the maths to see if buying multipacks is better value.
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Where to buy cheap Covid tests
Single and multipacks of lateral flow tests are widely available at supermarkets and high street pharmacies.
Here's what you can expect to pay – and where you can get hold of them cheapest.
Cheapest single Covid tests
The cheapest price we found was £1.65 at Savers, though most single test packs are typically around £2 each.
- FlowFlex lateral flow test x 1: £1.65 to £2.50 depending on the retailer. Available at Asda, Boots, Ocado, Savers, Superdrug, Tesco and Waitrose.
- Step Ahead lateral flow test x 1: £2.08. Available at Lloyds Pharmacy.
- Getein covid test kit x 1: £2. Available at Morrisons.
Cheapest multipack Covid tests
The average price per test in a multipack is £1.80. Getein tests, stocked at Morrisons, are currently the cheapest at £1.60 per test.
Superdrug had the cheapest of the Flowflex multipacks (the most widely available brand), as it stocks a 6-pack rather than a 5-pack – making them £1.67 per pack.
- FlowFlex lateral flow tests x 5/6: £8.50 to £10 (£1.67 to £1.96 each). Available at Asda, Boots, Ocado, Sainsburys, Superdrug, Tesco.
- Step Ahead lateral flow tests x 5: £9.90 (£1.98 each), Available at Lloyds Pharmacy.
- Getein Covid tests x 5: £8 (£1.60 each). Available at Morrisons.
Is it cheaper to buy Covid tests in a multipack?
Buying a multipack can work out cheaper than buying a single test, but it depends on the retailer. The cheapest test kit we found overall was the multipack from Getein, sold at Morrisons.
Generally speaking, multipacks are better value vs single packs at the same retailer, though a single Flowflex test at Savers is cheaper than the unit test cost in most multipack options.
Typically, tests are good for up to two years before they expire, so if you find a cheaper multipack this is probably a better bet.
Prices correct as of 26 November 2024
Flu and Covid jabs: who can get vaccinated for free? Our guide explains more, plus the cheapest private options
Who can get free lateral flow tests?
Most people no longer get Covid tests for free from the NHS but some people can get free Covid tests from a pharmacy.
Typically this is people aged 12 years and over who are clinically vulnerable and at higher risk of being seriously ill with Covid.
The government says people who qualify are encouraged to test themselves to gain timely access to treatments.
Check the NHS Covid treatment information guide for a full list of those who are eligible and for information on accessing tests, including local pharmacies offering them (you will need to show them proof of your eligibility).
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When should you consider taking a test?
There is no longer any official government guidance about when to test, so people are having to weigh up when is sensible to do so.
It's important to remember that LFTs aren't perfectly accurate, and you also have to take into account other factors such as your symptoms, whether you've had contact with a confirmed case and whether you'll be seeing anyone who is particularly vulnerable, such as pregnant women, older people, or people with pre-existing conditions.
LFTs are more prone to false negatives than positives, so if you have suspicious symptoms and test negative, it's still worth erring on the side of caution.
Similarly, if you've had close contact with someone who has confirmed Covid, it doesn't make sense to test immediately as it's unlikely an LFT will pick it up straight away. But given the transmissibility of the virus, it's sensible to act with extra caution in this situation.
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Symptoms of Covid
Common symptoms include:
- continuous cough
- high temperature, fever or chills
- loss of (or change in) sense of taste or smell
- shortness of breath
- lack or energy or unexplained tiredness
- muscle aches or pains
- loss of appetite
- headache that lasts longer than usual
- sore throat
- runny or stuffy nose
- feeling sick or being sick.
Covid symptoms are similar to other respiratory infections. It might not be possible to tell what you have just from your symptoms, which is why you may want to take a test, as well as taking precautions before it's confirmed.
Whatever winter bug you may have, ideally you should try to minimise contact with others when you aren't well, such as working from home if possible. Practise good hygiene too: cover your mouth and nose when you cough, and wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, to reduce the spread of infection.
Vaccination continues to be vitally important, so if you are eligible you should consider getting a seasonal booster if it's offered to you.
Find out more about who is eligible, plus private options, in our guide to Flu and Covid jabs
