PCR travel tests review launched amid concerns over price, reliability and quality of service

MSE_Emily

The competition watchdog has announced plans to review the PCR travel tests market amid concerns that the price, reliability and quality of service provided could be creating a barrier for families wanting to travel abroad. A response will be provided by the Competition and Markets Authority within the next month...
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PCR travel tests review launched amid concerns over price, reliability and quality of service
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Butts

Perhaps they should be concentrating on the need for them never mind the price.

There seem to be a multitude of destinations you can travel to if fully vaccinated without taking any tests whatsoever on entry, yet you are required to go through this rigmarole on the way back.

Why are we so different from most of Europe in this respect ? - or do Europeans have to do this when returning from the UK ?

Troytempest

Exactly. If fully vaccinated then we should be back in without any tests.

They say it's to prevent new variants but apparently they are not doing the sequencing for variants on the vast majority of tests.

michael1234

And its two tests within a few days of each other even from "Green" countries.

sheramber

they only do variant tests on positive  results. No point in doing in them on the others.

Thrugelmir

Troytempest said:

Exactly. If fully vaccinated then we should be back in without any tests.

Doesn't stop you importing Covid though. It's not about you but the rest of us. Reasonable that those that wish to travel bear the cost. 

Troytempest

What do you mean importing it - we already have more of it than almost any other country and fully vaccinated are far less likely to transmit (apparently!).

Bunyip_2

These tests appear to be a government endorsed scam - especially as the tests are often self administered.  If they really expected this to stop the import of the virus, the government would want more rigour in how the tests are taken.

Sandtree

Bunyip_2 said:

These tests appear to be a government endorsed scam - especially as the tests are often self administered.  If they really expected this to stop the import of the virus, the government would want more rigour in how the tests are taken.

More rigour is more cost... there will always be the concern of pushing travel further into social divide that only the well healed can afford to go anywhere.

I certainly think things could be done much better but a Conservative government is always going to claim that private enterprise and market forces will drive down prices and deliver the best for all. 

Arguably the most important test of all is the one before you get on the plane and introducing more rigour in something done overseas would be very hard to do.