COVID Fit to Fly
Covid-19 Antigen Same Day Testing Service
From Friday 11th December Dears Pharmacy and Travel Clinic, in Partnership with Agilis Health Ltd, are offering COVID-19 point of care antigen testing from its Dunfermline High Street branch, along with Oxgangs and Easter Road pharmacies in Edinburgh.
Agilis Health are a market leader health diagnostic and screening business, currently focusing on provision of Covid-19 testing, that uses the highest quality, direct from manufacturer analysis units and testing products.
The tests will be managed and administered by Dears Pharmacy, who will use trained healthcare professionals to take precise samples, that will then be accurately and quickly analysed, producing results within 15 minutes of the sample being taken.
The analysis and testing products used are CE-IVD approved from global market leader Boditech, meeting UK and EU regulatory requirements. Features of the tests and service provision include, but are not limited to;
- Phone appointment to secure a test session
- Highly accurate analysis of samples both in terms of sensitivity and specificity.
- Quick results, within 15 minutes of the sample being taken
- Result printout for personal confirmation, and test certificate
- Non-invasive sampling administered by a healthcare professional
- Advise and information on other forms of Covid-19 testing, analysis and control measures.
The below graph illustrates the Boditech sensitivity and specificity performance:
An antigen test indicates presence, of the virus in an individual. This test is suited to early identification of the virus being present, assisting the reduction of it spreading, and helping to provide peace of mind for an individual, on receipt of a negative result.
If you would like to book a test with Dear Pharmacy please contact us at the following locations:
Edinburgh: Oxgangs & Easter Rd
Fife: Dunfermline
The test costs £99 per person.
Show you're safe to fly with a PCR test and travel certificate - COVID Fit to Fly
Safe travels with a Covid-19 PCR test and a 'fit-to-fly' certificate. Our test costs £149 which includes your certificate to confirm status if you test negative. Our COVID Fit to Fly service provides both.
Covid-19 travel certificate
As restrictions on international travel are gradually being lifted, many destination countries require a medical certificate showing proof of a negative test result for Covid-19, either to gain entry or to avoid the need to quarantine.
Even in cases where the destination country does not require proof of a negative result, knowing you are coronavirus free before travelling to a foreign country can give you extra peace of mind.
How to get a Covid-19 travel certificate
3 easy steps to fly safely:
- Work out when you need to take your test: Many destinations require a negative result from a sample taken no more than 72 hours before your flight. You should confirm this requirement before purchasing.
- Order your test and certificate: Once you’ve confirmed travel dates, you can go ahead and visit your local Dears Pharmacy to carry out your test with our trained pharmacists.
- Getting your results: We will return your results within 72 hours of receipt at the lab. They will be sent to you via email, along with a certificate if you test negative. This will include the sample date and the date of the results.
Rapid PCR test and travel certificate for Covid-19
Our PCR test checks for the presence of the virus in your system. The PCR test is most appropriate during the earliest stages of exposure to the virus, approximately 1-11 days, and should be undertaken when someone suspects they have Covid-19, or if they believe they have been recently exposed to it. The test can detect Covid-19 even if the individual is asymptomatic.
If you are travelling abroad, we provide Covid-19 travel certificates, which can be used to prove a negative result required by certain countries to gain entry or avoid the need to quarantine. Results are released 48 hours after the completed test is received at the lab. The lab we work with operates 7 days a week and will send the certificate and results via email as soon as they are received. The results will include the patient name, date of test, DOB and results from the test taken.
PCR Swab Test
The test is carried out by our trained pharmacists using a swab that takes samples from the throat and the nose. The PCR test detects the presence of Covid-19 viral RNA and is most appropriate during the earliest stages after exposure to the virus, and should be undertaken when someone suspects they have Covid-19, or if they believe they have been recently exposed to it. The scientific consensus is that the virus can stay in your nose and throat for 14 days but it can be shorter or longer in some people. Therefore a negative result may also mean the virus was not in your nose and throat when the test was done, or the swab test was not correctly done. The test has a sensitivity of at least 98% which means that there is also a chance of up to 2% of recording a false negative reading.
Why you may need a PCR test
You may need a PCR test for Covid-19 if you are planning to travel abroad from the United Kingdom. As restrictions on travel are gradually lifted, many destination countries require a medical certificate showing proof of a negative test result for Covid-19, either to gain entry or to avoid the need to quarantine.
If you suspect that you may have Covid-19, but only mild symptoms or potential exposure to someone with Covid-19, we recommend that you book a PCR test and, in line with NHS advice, self-isolate for 7 days from when symptoms started. If you live with others you should self-isolate for 14 days from when the first person in the house became ill.
There is no need to call NHS 111 to self-isolate. However, if symptoms have not improved after 14 days, contact NHS 111 online or by phone. If your symptoms worsen at any point please call 111. If you are struggling with your breathing please call 999. Tests are currently only being offered by the NHS to patients who are being admitted to hospital and some NHS frontline staff and some key workers. This leaves many people with uncertainty about the best course of action for their own health.
Service details
Price: £149 plus postage
Frequency: When required...
Availability
This service is available in / from the following pharmacies:
Select your preferred pharmacy to visit their page and enquire about this service or just pop in when it suits you.