Walgreens-owned UK pharmacy chain Boots now has on offer private Covid-19 tests, but cautions that people who think they may have been infected shouldn’t use them.
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests sell for AU$220 each, which Boots says are the cheapest tests on the market in the UK.
“This service is not suitable for anyone with symptoms of Covid-19, or anyone who thinks they may have Covid-19,” the company says.
To access the test, customers need to book an appointment online followed by a swab test in a pharmacy. The test is sent for lab testing, with the result forthcoming in 48 hours.
The testing is only on offer for those without symptoms, Boots says, to prevent infectious people coming in-store.
The service is currently available in 10 high-street stores in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.
Boots intends to roll the tests out to 50 stores throughout November, which could see 200 stores offering the test in the next few months.
