PCR tests for day 2 & 8 when to buy them

borderline

How early can you buy these tests before you have to go away? can I buy a week or two in advance?
do they fit through the door's letterbox ?
How do you return these tests if you are in quarantine and you live alone? I understand they can be dropped at a priority mail box, taken to their labs, etc..  but you have to leave the house for that 

R3dders

From Gov Website - Where your testing provider conducts the day 2 and day 8 tests at a testing facility you may leave the house for your test. Where your tests are delivered and self-administered, if there is no one in your household or bubble who can post the test for processing, you may leave the premises to post your test. If you have to leave the premises, you should follow the guidance on the How to trave (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england) 

michael1234

On my trip about 3 weeks ago I used Randox for the day 2 and 8. They did not fit through the letter box but were left outside. I also bought a day 5 test from Eurofins and that also was too big.
I think you could buy the tests quite far in advance but I think I had to provide dates so they knew which date was day 2/8 and they sent the tests to arrive a couple of days before.
As R3dders says, you can go out to return them.

borderline

michael1234 said:

On my trip about 3 weeks ago I used Randox for the day 2 and 8. They did not fit through the letter box but were left outside. I also bought a day 5 test from Eurofins and that also was too big.
I think you could buy the tests quite far in advance but I think I had to provide dates so they knew which date was day 2/8 and they sent the tests to arrive a couple of days before.
As R3dders says, you can go out to return them.

Are you saying they sent the boxes just two days before you were due your test on day 2 ??
if the box doesn't fit through the letterbox this can be a problem for me because nobody will be in to open the door and I'll come back to no tests.. geez they could have thought that people are getting this because they are going away, if the boxes won't fit through the letterbox many people won't get them . 

michael1234

borderline said:

michael1234 said:

On my trip about 3 weeks ago I used Randox for the day 2 and 8. They did not fit through the letter box but were left outside. I also bought a day 5 test from Eurofins and that also was too big.
I think you could buy the tests quite far in advance but I think I had to provide dates so they knew which date was day 2/8 and they sent the tests to arrive a couple of days before.
As R3dders says, you can go out to return them.

Are you saying they sent the boxes just two days before you were due your test on day 2 ??
if the box doesn't fit through the letterbox this can be a problem for me because nobody will be in to open the door and I'll come back to no tests.. geez they could have thought that people are getting this because they are going away, if the boxes won't fit through the letterbox many people won't get them . 

I'm trying to remember....which is tricky because we had tests sent from two different providers and each provider package their boxes slightly differently but I definitely recall boxes being left outside.

I'm fairly sure the tests turned up on day 1 (next day after travel) which makes sense as then you're quarantining and so would be in.