Can you still get free lateral flow tests and how do you order?

Free lateral flow testing (LFT) is set to end in England very soon, as part of the Government’s plan to move from a pandemic to an endemic, and ‘live with Covid’.

Under the new measures, the majority of people will have to pay for home testing kits.

But how can you order LFTs while they are still free, and when will you start having to pay?

Here is everything you need to know.

How to order a free lateral flow Covid test

There are still several different ways to get your hands on free LFTs.

The options are as follows:

• Ordering a test online and having it delivered to your home
• Call 119 between 7 am and 11 pm and order it by phone
• Going to local testing sites 
• Using your workplace testing programme
• Collecting a test from a local PCR test site during certain time windows
• Using the new ‘Pharmacy Collect’ service at participating pharmacies and picking up a box of seven tests

However, following the announcement on free testing rules, people struggled to order LFTs amid a scramble for kits.

The number of free tests will be capped to ‘manage demand’ ahead of the upcoming deadline, with the public urged not to stockpile packs.

It meant that many people rushed to the Government website only to be met with the message: ‘Sorry, there are no home delivery slots left for rapid lateral flow tests right now.’

When will free Covid tests end?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed that England’s free Covid-19 tests will end from April 1.

However, care home residents, hospital patients and other vulnerable groups will still be given free tests if they have symptoms.

The Prime Minister said full details of ‘who will continue to be entitled to free tests’ will be set out in full later this month.

Free testing for those without symptoms ends on April 18 in Scotland.

Northern Ireland and Wales are yet to announce any changes to their Covid-19 tests.

You can find out how to buy LFTs after the free testing kits end here.

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