London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jul 04, 2025

How do I get a coronavirus test?

How do I get a coronavirus test?

What are the tests for coronavirus, who are they for and how do they work?

An increase in demand for coronavirus tests has led to local shortages - with some people being directed to test sites hundreds of miles from their homes.

Testing people and then tracing the contacts of those infected is considered vital to stop the disease from spreading.

Should I get tested?


Anyone showing any of the three key symptoms of coronavirus should be able to be tested. The symptoms are:

* a fever
* a new continuous cough
* a loss of smell or taste

The idea of testing is to find people with the virus and keep them isolated to avoid it being spread through the wider community.

What are the Covid tests?


There are two types of tests.

The first checks if you are currently infected. A nose and throat swab is taken and then sent off to be processed at a lab.

New versions promising to deliver results in 90 minutes are being introduced in hospitals and care homes, where they can be processed using portable machines. But they're not yet widely available.

Tests on saliva are also being trialled, with samples analysed by laboratories.

The second test involves blood samples and looks for antibodies which indicate past, rather than current, infection.

At the moment, these are mainly being used by scientists to estimate what percentage of the population has had Covid, rather than to diagnose individuals.



How do I book a test to check if I have coronavirus?


The testing system has been experiencing a number of problems and many people have struggled to book.

The government maintains anyone with symptoms should still apply for one.

Until you can get a test it's important you and your household self-isolate.

How to get tested:

   * Go online, or call 119, before going to a drive-through or walk-through testing site - or a mobile testing unit. But people have faced long waits on the phone and have struggled to book online

   * Order a home testing kit in the first four days of having symptoms - although some home kits are not being made available to clear backlogs in laboratories



The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated lab capacity is the reason people have been unable to book tests in recent days.

Testing sites across the the UK:

* 236 mobile units
* 74 drive-through sites
* 58 walk-through sites
* 21 satellite sites (for specific groups - such as health workers)

There are 389 testing centres in total. The aim is to have 500.

How many tests are being carried out?


Figures available reveal testing capacity and the number of actual tests being done. They also show the extent of antibody testing and those tests used by scientists to estimate how widespread the virus is.

* About 220,000 individual tests are actually being processed each day
* Individual testing capacity (excluding antibody tests and virus spread testing) is about 245,000 a day
* 375,000 is the total current UK laboratory daily testing capacity (including antibody tests and virus spread testing)
* The UK government wants laboratory capacity to be 500,000 a day by 31 October

The government has pledged to bring in mass coronavirus testing by the end of the year, even among people with no symptoms.

The prime minister has spoken of his desire for 10 million Covid-19 tests a day by early 2021 - including some that give results in minutes. But experts warn laboratory capacity is an issue - and the technology for more rapid testing does not yet exist.

Can I be tested if I have no symptoms?


Generally only people with symptoms should apply for a test, with results expected within 48 hours.

However, staff and residents in care homes should now be receiving regular tests, regardless of symptoms. Some hospital staff are routinely tested, but there is no national guidance stating they must be.

If you don't have symptoms, the government says you should not apply for a test - unless you are living in a local lockdown area.



How reliable are the tests?


With the most common type of diagnostic test, scientists at the University of Bristol believe 20% of positive cases could falsely appear as negative - wrongly telling someone they are not infected.

This can be because the swab sample wasn't good enough, there were problems in the lab, or because of the stage of infection the patient was at when tested.



How does the UK compare to other countries?


Each country records testing slightly differently, so like for like comparisons won't be 100% accurate.

However, analysis from Our World In Data, a research team based at the University of Oxford, suggests the UK is now performing more tests than many other countries.

For example, the seven-day average up until 10 September showed the UK had carried out 2.8 tests per 1,000 people. This was ahead of European countries including France (2.1) and Spain and Germany (both 1.8).

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
×