Lateral Flow Test to arrive back in UK

bobblebob

So as per the Government website

The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.

This could include tests such as:

• a PCR test
• a LAMP test
• an antigen test, such as an LFD (lateral flow device) test

Ive seen companies charge £29 for a LFT, where you send off a picture of the result, with your passport pic and they send a certificate to travel. The tests they send out seem to be the same ones you can get on the NHS for free. Are they just the same thing?

ItsComingRome

bobblebob said:

So as per the Government website

The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.

This could include tests such as:

• a PCR test
• a LAMP test
• an antigen test, such as an LFD (lateral flow device) test

Ive seen companies charge £29 for a LFT, where you send off a picture of the result, with your passport pic and they send a certificate to travel. The tests they send out seem to be the same ones you can get on the NHS for free. Are they just the same thing?

Yes, but you can't use an NHS test.

onashoestring

It is this is the same kind of test - you have to have a certified result in either English, Spanish or French .

Butts

ItsComingRome said:

bobblebob said:

So as per the Government website

The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.

This could include tests such as:

• a PCR test
• a LAMP test
• an antigen test, such as an LFD (lateral flow device) test

Ive seen companies charge £29 for a LFT, where you send off a picture of the result, with your passport pic and they send a certificate to travel. The tests they send out seem to be the same ones you can get on the NHS for free. Are they just the same thing?

Yes, but you can't use an NHS test.

Ludicrous when they hand them out like smarties for any other purpose.

Sandtree

Butts said:

ItsComingRome said:

bobblebob said:

So as per the Government website

The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.

This could include tests such as:

• a PCR test
• a LAMP test
• an antigen test, such as an LFD (lateral flow device) test

Ive seen companies charge £29 for a LFT, where you send off a picture of the result, with your passport pic and they send a certificate to travel. The tests they send out seem to be the same ones you can get on the NHS for free. Are they just the same thing?

Yes, but you can't use an NHS test.

Ludicrous when they hand them out like smarties for any other purpose.

But they don't give certificated results plus why should other tax payers contribute to the cost of your holiday?

Butts

Sandtree said:

Butts said:

ItsComingRome said:

bobblebob said:

So as per the Government website

The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.

This could include tests such as:

• a PCR test
• a LAMP test
• an antigen test, such as an LFD (lateral flow device) test

Ive seen companies charge £29 for a LFT, where you send off a picture of the result, with your passport pic and they send a certificate to travel. The tests they send out seem to be the same ones you can get on the NHS for free. Are they just the same thing?

Yes, but you can't use an NHS test.

Ludicrous when they hand them out like smarties for any other purpose.

But they don't give certificated results plus why should other tax payers contribute to the cost of your holiday?

Take it out of the APD almost every outward flight is subjected to and they won't have to.

R3dders

  

But they don't give certificated results plus why should other tax payers contribute to the cost of your holiday?

I agree that tax payers shouldn't have to contribute to peoples holidays and I have paid for several tests and completed quarantine on a number of occasions, however, does this apply to Foreign holidays only and/or holidays within the UK.  I have just read an article in the Mail On Line - ""Cornwall tourism chief urges visitors to take Covid tests before, after AND during their stay and not come unless they have booked after surge in cases - after Cumbria issued similar warning"" https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9924785/Cornwall-tourist-chief-urges-visitors-stay-away-surge-Covid-cases.html.  I don't see the difference, why should I have to pay for tests for foreign holidays then contribute to tests for holiday makers staying in the UK.  Just a thought 

Sandtree

Butts said:

Sandtree said:

Butts said:

ItsComingRome said:

bobblebob said:

So as per the Government website

The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.

This could include tests such as:

• a PCR test
• a LAMP test
• an antigen test, such as an LFD (lateral flow device) test

Ive seen companies charge £29 for a LFT, where you send off a picture of the result, with your passport pic and they send a certificate to travel. The tests they send out seem to be the same ones you can get on the NHS for free. Are they just the same thing?

Yes, but you can't use an NHS test.

Ludicrous when they hand them out like smarties for any other purpose.

But they don't give certificated results plus why should other tax payers contribute to the cost of your holiday?

Take it out of the APD almost every outward flight is subjected to and they won't have to.

I agree that in principle "something" could be done to bill it by the government but a raise in APD has a number of issues:

1) You have all those that have already paid for their tickets now who wouldn't pay the increased APD
2) You have people buying now for 10 months time when testing may not be required but will be charged the additional APD
3) The tests are for entering the UK but you are charging it for exiting the country... there will be people already outside coming in who won't pay the increased APD even if they book their one way ticket today and those leaving the country on a one way ticket who'll be charged for something they never use


Ultimately life isnt fair or perhaps its fair to penalise those that book late or plan well ahead and reward those that took the risk of booking a 2021 summer/winter hols last year.

Certainly the current farce of a system is a typical knee jerk reaction by an incompetent government who do constant U turns. It is however fair that only those using it are paying for it... even if its paying too much 

Finally, the LatFlow to return to the UK is the most complex one for APD to cover as the NHS doesn't have a certification process for the home kits and you can just imagine the results if the Track and Trace team started receiving 100,000 emails a day to issue certs for home done tests abroad.

Butts

Sandtree said:

Butts said:

Sandtree said:

Butts said:

ItsComingRome said:

bobblebob said:

So as per the Government website

The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.

This could include tests such as:

• a PCR test
• a LAMP test
• an antigen test, such as an LFD (lateral flow device) test

Ive seen companies charge £29 for a LFT, where you send off a picture of the result, with your passport pic and they send a certificate to travel. The tests they send out seem to be the same ones you can get on the NHS for free. Are they just the same thing?

Yes, but you can't use an NHS test.

Ludicrous when they hand them out like smarties for any other purpose.

But they don't give certificated results plus why should other tax payers contribute to the cost of your holiday?

Take it out of the APD almost every outward flight is subjected to and they won't have to.

I agree that in principle "something" could be done to bill it by the government but a raise in APD has a number of issues:

1) You have all those that have already paid for their tickets now who wouldn't pay the increased APD
2) You have people buying now for 10 months time when testing may not be required but will be charged the additional APD
3) The tests are for entering the UK but you are charging it for exiting the country... there will be people already outside coming in who won't pay the increased APD even if they book their one way ticket today and those leaving the country on a one way ticket who'll be charged for something they never use


Ultimately life isnt fair or perhaps its fair to penalise those that book late or plan well ahead and reward those that took the risk of booking a 2021 summer/winter hols last year.

Certainly the current farce of a system is a typical knee jerk reaction by an incompetent government who do constant U turns. It is however fair that only those using it are paying for it... even if its paying too much 

Finally, the LatFlow to return to the UK is the most complex one for APD to cover as the NHS doesn't have a certification process for the home kits and you can just imagine the results if the Track and Trace team started receiving 100,000 emails a day to issue certs for home done tests abroad.

I'm not saying raise APD but take it out of the existing levy which should more than cover it.

Even better get rid of the tests that no other European Country deems necessary for vaccinated passengers returning home.

Sandtree

Butts said:
I'm not saying raise APD but take it out of the existing levy which should more than cover it.

Even better get rid of the tests that no other European Country deems necessary for vaccinated passengers returning home.

Then what tax are you saying to raise to pay for it?

If its "just pay from existing taxes" then you are back in the same position as with almost no exceptions taxes are just lumped together and redistributed these days and its not the case that APD pays for air travel based costs and car tax pays for road maintenance etc... you're just robbing Peter to pay Paul. 

No more money coming in the top and more money coming out the middle means Jo Average is contributing to other's holidays. 

Plus we already decided we didn't want to be like our European neighbours and so you may as well call out the likes of Australia who aren't even allowing their own citizens back in even with testing