Health

How much do Covid tests REALLY cost? UK gears up for £3 swabs from April 1


Britons will face paying £3 per lateral flow test from April, despite French supermarkets offering them for three-times cheaper. 

As part of his ‘living with Covid’ blueprint, the Prime Minister announced he will scrap ‘free’ lateral flow tests within weeks.

Britons can currently pick up the tests in pharmacies or order them through the Government’s website at no cost. But the scheme costs No10 £2billion per month. 

People who opt to keep testing face spending £20 for a box of seven — around £3 per test, MailOnline understands. 

But in France, people can pick up tests at a third of the price, for as little as £1, while in Germany they can cost just £1.80 and Spain’s Government has capped them at roughly £2.45. 

However, the tests – which experts say can cost just pennies to make – are not as cheap everywhere, with Americans paying $10 (£7.35).

As part of his 'living with Covid' blueprint, the Prime Minister announced he will scrap 'free' lateral flow tests within weeks.

As part of his ‘living with Covid’ blueprint, the Prime Minister announced he will scrap ‘free’ lateral flow tests within weeks.

In France, people can pick up tests at a third of the UK price (around £3), for as little as £1, while in Germany they can cost just £1.80 and Spain's Government has capped them at roughly £2.45. However, the tests - which experts say can cost just pennies to make - are not as cheap everywhere, with Americans paying $10 (£7.35)

In France, people can pick up tests at a third of the UK price (around £3), for as little as £1, while in Germany they can cost just £1.80 and Spain’s Government has capped them at roughly £2.45. However, the tests – which experts say can cost just pennies to make – are not as cheap everywhere, with Americans paying $10 (£7.35)

The Government said testing has been a ‘crucial’ part of its Covid response and more than 2billion kits have been dished out since 2020.

But lateral flow and PCR tests will no longer be available to the general public for free. However, at-risk groups and social care staff will be able to take a test for free if they have symptoms.

No10 said with the less severe Omicron being dominant and high levels of immunity across the country, ‘the value for taxpayers’ money is now less clear’.  

Lateral flow tests are being rationed ALREADY 

The Government has started secretly rationing free coronavirus home testing kits amid fears of a rush ahead of them being phased out.

The online portal to apply for seven lateral flow tests was quietly changed this morning to restrict how many could be ordered.

Previously people worrying they had Covid were able to put an order in every 24 hours for a set.

But now the Government portal says they can only be ordered once every three days.

There were no announcements about this change but it comes ahead of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s expected announcement that all restrictions will be lifted.  

Mathematical biologist Dr Kit Yates wrote online: ‘It’s started. You used to be able to order a pack of lateral flow tests every 24 hours. That has now gone up to every 72 hours.’ 

Britons can currently buy the tests for £12.99 at some retailers.

But in France, the tests are easily accessible for €3 (£2.50), but can be bought for as little as €1.24 (£1) at retailer E.Leclerc.

People in Germany can pay just €2.20 (£1.80) per test at Lidl when buying a multipack of five tests, according to Spanish newspaper El Pais.

Meanwhile, the Spanish Government brought in a price cap of €2.94 (£2.45) per test.

The European countries also offer free tests. 

The exact cost of making the test varies, but some researchers say it is just five pence. But Mologic, one of the largest British testmakers, said the tests can cost $2 (£1.47) to make.

Dr Alexander Edwards, an associate professor in biomedical technology at Reading University, told MailOnline: ‘Lateral flow tests are really cheap to manufacture, what costs is making high quality tests, and following all the regulatory requirements. 

‘So there is no reason why tests should cost more in UK than elsewhere in Europe, but tests can vary in quality, so it’s possible that the really cheap products are less reliable. 

‘Remember also that the UK hasn’t been an attractive market for suppliers because the free government tests make it unpredictable if or when you can ever sell any here. 

‘So it may take a while for things to even out. As practical advice, I’d suggest to people there really is no need to test all the time- save tests for when they are really important.’

Professor Lawrence Young, a microbiologist from the University of Warwick, told MailOnline removing access to free tests ‘will mean that we won’t know who is infected and how the virus is spreading’. 

He added: ‘For those on low incomes who may be less inclined to test because of difficulties with being supported to self-isolate, this will mean ignoring symptoms with the inevitable consequence of spreading infection – including to those who are more vulnerable.’

Ministers have never confirmed the exact details of their deals to buy lateral flow tests from manufacturers such as Innova.

But last winter it was revealed that No10 had paid around £800million in return for roughly 380million swabs from the California-based firm.

That suggests the Government was paying in the region of £2.10 per test but slightly more expensive estimates have also been touted.

It comes as the UK’s online portal to apply for seven lateral flow tests was quietly changed this morning to restrict how many could be ordered.

Previously people worrying they had Covid were able to put an order in every 24 hours for a set.

But now the Government portal says they can only be ordered once every three days.

There were no announcements about this change but it was implemented ahead of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s expected announcement that all restrictions will be lifted.



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