72 hours PCR testing requirement and Late Monday flight, weeeknd delivery of test.

NoMore

Anybody any experience with the following:
I have a flight booked to Porto leaving Liverpool at 1810 on Monday the 21 June. Portuguese requirements are a PCR test must be taken no more than 72 hours before flight to enable entry.
This means the earliest I can take it is 1810 Friday the 18 June. However my only option is a take at home test and then send to a lab, I'm in Cumbria and the nearest in person test is 2 and half hours away. I am worried about the timing of completing the test, posting it and getting the result back ready for Monday. Most tests seem to use Royal Mail 24, however they only ever talk about next working day delivery.
My question is if I'm posting it via Tracked 24 on Friday Night will the lab receive it and process it within time ? I know there's no guarantee, but the weekend seems to make this situation worse, or am I worrying unnecessarily ?

jd87

Randox and Eurofins have drop boxes with collections 7 days per week. There might not be one very near to you, but your only option might be to make that long journey.

NoMore

Thanks but I have already checked them and they are even further away than the in person clinic! Guess I might have to bite the bullet and drive to Newcastle and Back on the Saturday

Batesy1976

You won't receive it in time if you post in on Friday night, no.

It probably would have been wise to sort out the logistics of this before booking your flight.

NoMore

Batesy1976 said:

It probably would have been wise to sort out the logistics of this before booking your flight.

SIGH! Here we go again! The thread has already been cleaned up following a argument over a similar comment, I admit I didn't take to it kindly.
I'm doing the research now, the flight was incredibly cheap and I can change it for free if required. The flight isn't for another month so I have plenty of time to work out my options, and even if its not to go, I am prepared to lose the cost of the flight, so no I did not have to sort out the logistics before booking the flight

silvercar

I would be inclined to go to Liverpool the day before and do one of the express tests near the airport. Seems far less driving than going from Cumbria to Newcastle and back and then on to Liverpool. It may not be the cheapest test, but you will save on petrol.

onashoestring

Liverpool airport website advertises a rapid PCR test with results back in 1-3 hours you need to book ahead  it costs £175
https://www.liverpoolairport.com/fit-to-fly

ess0two

The EU could well accept someone with both jabs by then if that includes you? without test, i'm assuming the UK will still require a PCR test for return, regardless of jab status.

JJC1956

NoMore said:

Anybody any experience with the following:
I have a flight booked to Porto leaving Liverpool at 1810 on Monday the 21 June. Portuguese requirements are a PCR test must be taken no more than 72 hours before flight to enable entry.
This means the earliest I can take it is 1810 Friday the 18 June. However my only option is a take at home test and then send to a lab, I'm in Cumbria and the nearest in person test is 2 and half hours away. I am worried about the timing of completing the test, posting it and getting the result back ready for Monday. Most tests seem to use Royal Mail 24, however they only ever talk about next working day delivery.
My question is if I'm posting it via Tracked 24 on Friday Night will the lab receive it and process it within time ? I know there's no guarantee, but the weekend seems to make this situation worse, or am I worrying unnecessarily ?

When I flew to Madeira (Portuguese Island) in Dec, our test results never arrived until later that evening (day 3)  we were given a free PCR test at the airport, handed a sticker and told we needed to stay in our residence until we received our test result. All of our test results from the UK and Madeira turned up the same time. Maybe Mainland Portugal offers the same service, the downside is, if you arrive in Porto and you get a Positive test result on arrival you will be quarantined. 
Silvercar suggestion sounds sensible, book a hotel in Liverpool the night before and find a place in Liverpool that guarantees test result within 24 hours, have test done reasonably early on the Sunday. 

michael1234

I feel for you OP. Its really difficult at the moment.
My only advice (from experience) is to make sure you really follow the pcr swabbing process to the letter. Getting an UNCLEAR result hours before you're due to fly is definitely something you don't want.