Test at home with the COVID-19 PCR test. The test can tell you if you currently have coronavirus (COVID-19).
Please note individuals who have had COVID-19 in the past 90 days may continue to test positive or show unclear results.
The COVID-19 at home PCR testing kit contains a nasal/throat swab and instructions of how to carry out the test to see if you are infected with COVID-19. You will receive your testing kit on the appropriate day depending on the type of test you order and receive your result within 48 hours of your test getting back to our partner lab†.
†Subject to Royal Mail services running normally. Bupa does not accept any responsibility or liability for losses arising as a result of any delay, if the test result is not provided to you within your required timescale as may be set by you or any third party.
Standard Test – £99 per test
When can this test be used?
- If you have symptoms and you want to know if you have COVID-19
- If you don’t have symptoms and want to know if you currently have COVID-19
- You can also purchase a kit in advance so you have one ready should you need to use one.* (*kits are valid for 12 months from date of purchase)
Travel Tests
When these tests can be used:
- Test to Travel – You can purchase a test to use prior to travelling overseas. You will need to ensure you meet the requirements of the country you are travelling to. Please consult the government website and/or your travel provider for the requirements of the country or countries you are planning to travel to. This test can be purchased for £99††.
- Day 2 Testing – As per the current government guidelines, when returning to England from a country on the green travel list it is mandatory for everyone over 5 years of age to have a PCR test on the 2nd day after your return. Please see the government website for more information. This test can be purchased for £99.
- Day 2 and 8 Testing – As per the current government guidelines when returning to England from a country on the amber travel list it is mandatory for everyone over 5 years of age to have a PCR test on the 2nd and 8th day after your return. Please see the government website for more information. Both tests can be purchased for £149.
- Day 5 Test to Release – This government scheme is available to those visiting or returning to England who have travelled from a permitted country. It allows individuals to purchase a private COVID-19 test to be taken no earlier than the 5th full day following your return, in order to end self-isolation early if it is negative. This test can be purchased for £99††. To take part in this scheme you must check the government guidelines to ensure you are eligible.
Bupa is an approved Government Supplier of COVID-19 Tests for travel
In taking the test you are agreeing that your data can be shared with government organisations for COVID-19 purposes. For example, for clinical research or public health monitoring. In addition, your data may be entered into the NHS Test and Trace system. If you do not wish your data to be used in this way then you should not order the test.
PCR testing will tell you if you currently have COVID-19, rather than a past infection. If you want to know whether you may previously have had COVID-19 and have detectable antibodies, you need to take an antibody test.
How does our COVID-19 at home PCR testing service work?
Step 1: Order your test
You can order a test kit online from our approved partner Everything Genetic. You’ll need to create an account to complete your order. If you wish to purchase multiple kits, you need to enter the required details for each person you are ordering a kit for.
Step 2: Test yourself
The testing kit will instruct you on how to perform the nasal and throat swab and how to perform the test on a child if required.
If you have symptoms, please complete the test as soon as you receive it.
If you have ordered a kit in advance, please store safely until you need to use it. Our COVID-19 at home PCR tests can be used up to 12 months after purchase.
If you have purchased a test to use pre-travel or as part of the test to release service, then it is important that you only complete the kit on the specified day. Please ensure you check the requirements for the country you are travelling to‡.
‡Bupa and Everything Genetic cannot be held liable for tests completed on an incorrect day or for any delays in Royal Mail postal services.
Step 3: Return your kit
You will need to follow the instructions enclosed in your kit. Please ensure you follow the instructions carefully paying particular attention to securing the lid of the sample container properly and ensuring the liquid remains in the container. Then post it back to our partner lab using the Royal Mail label supplied. Please note, you must use a Royal Mail priority post box, as tests cannot be taken into a post office‡‡
‡‡Bupa and everything genetic can not be held liable for delays to Royal Mail service.
Step 4: Need extra support?
If you get a positive result and wish to discuss this with our team, you are entitled to a follow up call with our Anytime HealthLine service within 3 months of your test results.
Step 1: Check the government website
Test to Travel – Check the government website and/or your travel provider for the requirements of the country or countries you are planning to travel to.
Day 2 and 8 testing – Visit the government website for more information on testing when you return.
Day 5 Test to Release – Check the government website for information on the Test to Release scheme and to see if you are eligible.
Step 2: Order your test
When you order, please ensure you are purchasing the correct test depending on your needs. You must allow sufficient time for the test to arrive to you, which usually takes between 2-3 days, and to be returned back to our lab, which usually takes between 2-3 days. Some countries request a specific time period during which the test must be performed prior to departure. ‡‡‡
.‡‡‡Bupa does not accept any responsibility or liability for losses arising as a result of any delay, if the test result is not provided to you within your required timescale as may be set by you or any third party
Please note your Days 2 and Days 2 and 8 tests will not be dispatched until your return to England. These tests kits cannot be dispatched in advance so will arrive in time for you to complete the test on day 2 or day 2 and 8.
Step 3: Test yourself
Perform the test on the required day. Check the government website and/or your travel provider for further information on what day the test needs to be performed.
The testing kit will instruct you how to perform the nasal and throat swab and how to perform the test on a child if required.
Step 4: Return your kit
You will need to follow the instructions enclosed in your kit. Please ensure you follow the instructions carefully paying particular attention to securing the lid of the sample container properly and ensuring the liquid remains in the container. Then post it back to our partner lab using the Royal Mail label supplied. Please note, you must use a Royal Mail priority post box, as tests cannot be taken into a post office‡‡
‡‡Bupa and everything genetic can not be held liable for delays to Royal Mail service.
Step 5: Your results
You will receive your results via text message and through the Everything Genetic portal.
If you get a positive test you must self-isolate, follow the current government guidelines and contact your travel provider as soon as possible.
Day 2 and 8 Testing – if you test positive on day 2, you and your household must self-isolate. You will not be required to have further tests. Please see the government guidelines. As our lab will be required to run further sequencing testing on any positive tests to identify new variants of COVID-19, no refund will be given for the day 8 test.
Day 5 Test to Release – If you test negative, you can stop isolating immediately, so long as nobody in your household has tested positive or developed symptoms. You must still take a day 8 test. If you test positive, you must isolate as per the government guidelines.
Step 6: Need extra support?
Need support prior to ordering your test? Contact the team by emailing mycovidtest@bupa.com. Please note, our support team cannot advise on the requirements for specific destinations.
If you get a positive result and wish to discuss this with our nursing team, you are entitled to a follow up call with our Anytime HealthLine service within 3 months of your test results.
Why should I buy a COVID-19 at home PCR test with Bupa?
- We're partnered with Everything Genetic - a UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited laboratory - to do our testing you don’t need to be a Bupa insurance customer
- A follow up call with a nurse valid within 3 months of your test if you have further questions or concerns
- Get your result within 48 hours of the test arriving back at our partner lab ††
- One price includes the test and follow up advice
If you’re interested in coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for your business, we can help.
The test can confirm if you have COVID-19. A positive result confirms that you are currently infected, and you and your household should therefore follow government guidelines on self-isolation.
The test works by taking a swab from the back of the throat and inner nostril. The swab is then sent to the lab, where they will analyse the sample by looking for the virus’ genetic material.
The Standard test, Test to Travel, Day 2 and Test to Release are £99. Days 2 & 8 together are £149. This is inclusive of postage costs and one follow up support call with a nurse.
Our partner laboratory aims to deliver results within 48 hours of the kit being received at the lab.
The accuracy of PCR testing is based on two things, firstly the accuracy of using a swab as a technique for detecting COVID-19, and secondly the accuracy of test that the laboratory uses.
- Research suggests the sensitivity (ability to pick-up individuals who are infected with COVID-19) when using a swab is between 70-90%. This means that some individuals who are infected may still get a negative result, which is true of all PCR testing. The sensitivity (ability to detect COVID-19 in someone who has it) of Everything Genetic’s laboratory test is over 99%.
- The specificity (ability to correctly produce a negative result in those who don’t have COVID-19) of this PCR test is also over 99%. This means that 99% of individuals who do not have COVID-19 will correctly be identified as having a negative result.
The accuracy of a test is based on a combination of these factors, and gives information about infection at the time it was taken – it can’t predict whether someone might develop COVID-19 after taking the test. A negative result does not completely rule out current infection and it is therefore essential to follow social distancing guidelines. Those with symptoms should follow government guidance on self-isolation.
The chances of getting a false positive test result (testing positive when you don’t have COVID-19) is very low.
Our test can detect known coronavirus variants. The accuracy of our PCR tests is not reduced in the context of the new variant strain of coronavirus. We regularly compare our tests with the global database of variants of COVID-19, to ensure that this ability is maintained.
This depends on the type of test you order.
- Test to Travel- your kit(s) will be dispatched as soon as you have completed payment and completed the mandatory information in your customer portal.
- Days 2 & 8- your kit(s) will be dispatched on the day you arrive in England. You will need to provide this date when you enter your mandatory information in the customer portal
- Test to Release- your kit(s)will be dispatched on the 4th day following your arrival in England. You will need to provide this date when you enter your mandatory information in the customer portal.
Please note if the mandatory information is completed after 15:00 the kit will be dispatched the next day excluding Sundays and bank holidays.
Yes, you can order multiple test kits to a single location. Please make sure you gain consent for before you purchase kits on another person’s behalf.
If you are ordering the COVID-19 PCR test for a child under 16 you must be the child’s legal guardian and or have legal authority to agree to the use of the test and to receive results on their behalf.
If you are ordering the test for someone who cannot consent to having the COVID-19 test you must have a legal right to consent on their behalf.
No, however all test kits are sent out by Royal Mail Tracked 24, If you purchase multiple test kits, each person’s test kit will arrive individually and will fit through a standard letterbox. You will not be required to sign for the delivery.
You can order a test if you don’t live in the UK to be delivered to an address in England. If the address is a non-residential address, please ensure you have permission for the test to be delivered.
You will receive your result by text message and an email notification that your result is available to view on your customer portal as soon as the lab have processed your test. Please note that results for tests even if posted back at the same time might arrive at different times.
No, currently we are not offering in centre PCR testing. The tests we provide are home testing kits.
You may receive an unclear result for one of the following reasons:
- Rejected sample- this may occur if the lid of the sample comes lose during transit and the fluid within the sample container leaks. Please ensure the lid is on tight before posting your sample and do not remove the liquid from the sample container.
- Void Sample- When the swabbing was conducted, not enough sample was gathered to obtain a clear result.
- Inconclusive- This suggests that low levels of the virus were detected. However the levels of virus were too low to say that someone is truly positive and too high to say someone is truly negative for COVID-19. Our PCR test looks at two separate parts of the virus, so this result could be that only one part has been detected. Such a result occurs when someone is within the very early stages or the very late stages of an infection.
In all cases as outlined above we will be unable to offer a refund. You may need to undertake another test at an additional cost.
- Test to Travel – If you have not undertaken the test you can keep the kit for future use, please note the kits are valid for 12 months from date of purchase.
- Days 2, 8 and Test to Release – Please contact mycovidtest@bupa.com to inform us of the changes to your travel plans, the team will be able to amend any travel details to ensure the kits arrive on the appropriate day.
Please visit our terms and conditions (PDF 0.2MB) for further details of our refund policy.
††Royal Mail Tracked 24 Postage is included in the price of your kit. Delivery times are subject to royal mail services running normally.
Bupa Anytime HealthLine is provided by Bupa Occupational Health Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 631336. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London EC2R 7HJ
Bupa Occupational Health Limited provides testing for COVID-19 by working together with Everything Genetic Limited.
Bupa Occupational Health Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 631336. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London EC2R 7HJ.
Terms and conditions for Self Pay GP Services and COVID-19 antibody testing (PDF, 175KB)
