(COVID-19): The Official Provider for Test to Release for international travel

How the Scheme Works

The scheme was launched by the Government for anyone who arrives in England from outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man needs to self-isolate for 10 days. Under the scheme you can choose to pay for a private COVID-19 test. If the result is negative, you can stop self-isolating.

Find out more information on how to reduce your self-isolation period with the UK Government Test to Release scheme

All travel corridors for people arriving in England are suspended. If you are returning to the UK from a country previously listed on the Government’s Travel List Corridor you will need to self-isolate and not leave your home for a full 10 days. However, you can now reduce that time by taking a test from an approved provider. AC Medical Diagnostics and our partner laboratories are approved by the UK government for the Test-To-Release program. By taking this test, you will be able to reduce your self-isolation period from 10 days to 7 or 8 days if the result is negative.

Please note that some travellers cannot use the Test to Release scheme to shorten their isolation period. People who have been in or transited through the countries listed below in the last 10 days must self-isolate for the full 10days.  

Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Eswatini, French Guiana, Guyana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores), Seychelles, South Africa, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

How to Order your Home Sample Collection Test Kit

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Order your home sample test kit from AC Medical Diagnostics 48 hours before you arrive in the UK, to be delivered on your Day 5 after you arrive home.

Complete the government passenger locator form.  

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Arrive and go straight to the place you plan to stay and self-isolate.

 

You will receive your sample kit on Day 5 of self-isolation.  You can take the test no earlier than your 5th full day of isolation. Day 5 count starts from zero the day you left the country of origin, if you arrive the same day of departure, that day is day zero and the next day is day 1.

You can order your test any time before or during your holiday, or even when you’re back home, but please be aware, we time shipment to coincide with Day 5 testing

 

Take your test – take a gentle, painless swab at home on day 6. Post your test in a Royal Mail Priority Postbox or through a courier

 

Your test arrives at the laboratory

Results of the test

Get your results, within 24-48 hours from receipt at lab. If negative, you are to end self-isolation. If the result is positive you must remain in isolation for another 10 days.

Please note the following

  • If your 5th day test date falls on a weekend, we DO NOT ADVISEyou taking this test as you may not get the results in time to reduce your self-isolation.
  • When ordering your test, you will be required to provide us with your personal information and details of your journey.
  • If you have covid-19 symptoms, Test-to-Release is not suitable for you. Read about self-isolating following a positive test result.
  • You can only end self-isolation once you’ve received a negative covid-19 test result. Until you receive your result, you need to self-isolate.
  • The scheme is voluntary and if you do not want to opt into the Test to Release scheme, you will need to self-isolate until 10 full days have passed since were last in a place not on the travel corridor list.