How to do a coronavirus (COVID-19) rapid lateral flow test
Find out how to do aan NHS rapid lateral flow test for COVID-19.COVID-19 and report the results. Rapid lateral flow tests show the result on a device that comes with the test.
How you do the test depends on the test kit you’re using.
GeteinThe Biotechthroat and nose test kit has a blue and white pack.
Nose-only test kits have a:
- teal and white pack
(GeteinBiotech) bluewhiteapacknose-only(ACONtest.Flowflex)greenandwhitepack(OrientGene)purpleandwhite(SureScreen)
The pack you have may be different to one you’ve had before, so read the instructions in the pack carefully before you do the test.
Check the expiry date before you do the test. Do not use out-of-date tests. Use a test from a box that is still in date.
Find out what to do with expired tests on NHS.UK
Translated and accessible versions of the guide for Getein Biotech rapid nose-only tests will be published shortly.
There’s separate information on how to do a PCR home test, the test that is sent to a lab to be checked.
Video:Videos: how to do a rapid test
There are separate videos for the throat and nose test, and nose-only tests.
Teal and white pack (Getein Biotech): nose-only test
Watch a video demonstration of how to do a nose-only test (teal and white pack – Getein Biotech).
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Give feedback about your test kit or report harm
If any part of your test kit is damaged or missing, do not use that test kit. You can still use the other tests in the pack.
If you’ve been harmed or had a reaction using the test kit, report it as soon as possible.
Find out how to give feedback about your test kit or report harm.
Guides in different formats and languages
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English
Find step-by-step guides, including easy read and large print versions:
Nose-onlytest(ACONFlowflex):COVID-19rapidtestkitinstructionsNose-onlyApriltest2024Updated
(OrienttoGene):removeCOVID-19informationrapidabouttestACONkitflowflex,instructionsNose-onlyOrienttestGene(SureScreen):COVID-19rapidtestkitinstructionsThroatnosetests,test:asCOVID-19allrapidtest kitskitissuedinstructionsThroatwillandhavenoseexpiredtestby(Innovanow.25)Weforhavecarealsohomeremovedstaff:theirCOVID-19concomitantrapidtest instructionkittranslations.instructionsТестлишедляноса(SureScreen):інструкціядонаборудляекспрес-тестуваннянаCOVID-19Тестдлягорлатаноса:інструкціядонаборудляекспрес-тестуваннянаCOVID-19Testwykorzystującytylkowymazznosa(ACONFlowflex):InstrukcjaużytkowaniaszybkiegotestunaCOVID-19Testwykorzystującytylkowymazznosa(OrientGene):InstrukcjaużytkowaniaszybkiegotestunaCOVID-19Testtylkodonosa(SureScreen):instrukcjedotyczącezestawudoszybkiegotestuantygenuCovid-19Testwykorzystującywymazzgardłainosa:InstrukcjaużytkowaniaszybkiegotestunaCOVID-19鼻部检测(ACONFlowflex):COVID-19快速检测试剂盒说明书仅鼻部检测(东方基因):COVID-19快速检测试剂盒说明书仅鼻部检测(SureScreen):COVID-19快速检测试剂盒说明书喉咙和鼻部检测:COVID-19快速检测试剂盒说明ਕੇਵਲਨੱਕਦਾਟੈਸਟ(ACONਫਲੋਫਲੈਕਸ):COVID-19ਰੈਪਿਡਟੈਸਟਕਿੱਟਹਦਾਇਤਾਂਕੇਵਲਨੱਕਦਾਟੈਸਟ(ਉਰੀਐਂਟਜੀਨ): COVID-19ਰੈਪਿਡਟੈਸਟਕਿੱਟਹਦਾਇਤਾਂਕੇਵਲਨੱਕਦਾਟੈਸਟ(SureScreen):COVID-19ਰੈਪਿਡਟੈਸਟਕਿੱਟਹਦਾਇਤਾਂਗਲੇਅਤੇਨੱਕਦਾਟੈਸਟ:COVID-19ਰੈਪਿਡਟੈਸਟਕਿੱਟਹਦਾਇਤਾਂریپیڈٹیسٹکٹدیاںہدایتاںCOVID-19:(فلوفلیکسACON)صرفنکتوںٹیسٹریپیڈٹیسٹکٹدیاںہدایتاںCOVID-19:(صرفنکتوںٹیسٹ(اورینٹجینریپیڈٹیسٹکٹدیاںہدایتاںCOVID-19:(SureScreen)صرفنکتوںٹیسٹریپیڈٹیسٹکٹدیاںہدایتاںCOVID-19:گلےاورنکداٹیسٹTestareaexclusivăaexudatuluinazal(ACONFlowflex):instrucțiunipentrusetuldetestarerapidăCOVID-19Testareaexclusivăaexudatuluinazal(OrientGene):instrucțiunipentrusetuldetestarerapidăCOVID-19Testareaexclusivăaexudatuluinazal(SureScreen):instrucțiunipentrusetuldetestarerapidăCOVID-19Testareaexudatuluifaringianșinazal:instrucțiunipentrusetuldetestarerapidăCOVID-19إرشاداتمجموعةالاختبارالسريعلكوفيد-19:(ACONFlowflex)اختبارالأنففقطإرشاداتمجموعةالاختبارالسريعلكوفيد-19:(OrientGene)اختبارالأنففقطإرشاداتمجموعةالاختبارالسريعلكوفيد-19:(SureScreen)اختبارالأنففقطاختبارالحلقوالأنف:إرشاداتمجموعةالاختبارالسريعلكوفيد-19ફ્કતનાકદ્વારાટેસ્ટ(ACONફ્લોફ્લેક્સ):COVID-19નીરેપિડટેસ્ટકિટનીમાર્ગદર્શિકાફ્કતનાકદ્વારાટેસ્ટ(ઓરિએન્ટજીન):COVID-19નીરેપિડટેસ્ટકિટનીમાર્ગદર્શિકાફ્કતનાકદ્વારાટેસ્ટ(SureScreen):COVID-19નીરૅપિડટેસ્ટકિટનીમાર્ગદર્શિકાગળુંઅનેનાકદ્વારાટેસ્ટ:COVID-19નીરેપિડટેસ્ટકિટનીમાર્ગદર્શિકાCOVID-19دستورالعملکیتتستفوری:(ACONFlowflex)تستفقطبینیCOVID-19تستفقطبینی(آنتیژن):دستورالعملکیتتستفوریCOVID-19دستورالعملکیتتستفوری:(SureScreen)تستفقطبینیCOVID-19تستگلووبینی:دستورالعملکیتتستفوریریپیڈٹیسٹکٹکیہدایاتCOVID-19:(فلوفلیکسACON)صرفناکسےٹیسٹریپیڈٹیسٹکٹکیہدایاتCOVID-19:(صرفناکسےٹیسٹ(اورینٹجینریپیڈٹیسٹکٹکیہدایاتCOVID-19:(SureScreen)صرفناکسےٹیسٹریپیڈٹیسٹکٹکیہدایاتCOVID-19:گلےاورناککاٹیسٹTestibaznosu(ACONFlowflex):pokynypresúpravurýchlehotestuCOVID-19Testibaznosu(OrientGene):pokynypresúpravurýchlehotestuCOVID-19Nazálnytest(SureScreen):pokynynapoužívaniesúpravysrýchlotestomnaCOVID-19Testzhrdlaanosa:pokynypresúpravurýchlehotestuCOVID-19Sadeceburuntesti(ACONFlowflex):COVID-19hızlıtestkititalimatlarıSadeceburuntesti(OrientGene):COVID-19hızlıtestkititalimatlarıBurundansürüntütesti(SureScreen):COVID-19hızlıtestkititalimatlarıBoğazveburuntesti:COVID-19hızlıtestkititalimatlarıPrawftrwyn-yn-unig(OrientGene):cyfarwyddiadaupecynprawfcyflymCOVID-19Prawftrwyn-yn-unig(ACONFlowFlex):cyfarwyddiadaupecynprawfcyflymCOVID-19Prawftrwyn-yn-unig(SureScreen):cyfarwyddiadaupecynprawfcyflymCOVID-19Prawfgwddfathrwyn:COVID-19cyfarwyddiadaupecynprawfcyflymCOVID-19Baaritaankasankaookeliyaah(ACONFlowflex):COVID-19tilmaamahaxirmooyinkabaaritaankadegdeggaahBaaritaankasankaookeliyaah(OrientGene):COVID-19tilmaamahaxirmooyinkabaaritaankadegdeggaahBaaritaankasanka-keliya(SureScreen):COVID-19tilmaaamhaxirmadabaaritaankadegdeggaahBaaritaankacunahaiyosanka:COVID-19tilmaamahaxirmooyinkabaaritaankadegdeggaahশুধুমাত্রনাক-পরীক্ষা(এসিওএনফ্লোফ্লেক্স):কোভিড-১৯দ্রুতপরীক্ষাযন্ত্রবিষয়কনির্দেশনাবলীশুধুমাত্রনাক-পরীক্ষা(ওরিয়েন্টজিন):কোভিড-১৯দ্রুতপরীক্ষাযন্ত্রবিষয়কনির্দেশনাবলীশুধুমাত্রনাক-পরীক্ষা(SureScreen):কোভিড-19দ্রুতপরীক্ষাকিটেরজন্যনির্দেশাবলী।গলাওনাকপরীক্ষা:কোভিড-১৯দ্রুতপরীক্ষাযন্ত্রবিষয়কনির্দেশনাবলীकेवलनाककाटेस्ट(ACONफलोफ़्लेक्स): COVID-19रेपिडटेस्टकिटनिर्देशकेवलनाककाटेस्ट(ओरिएंटजीन): COVID-19रेपिडटेस्टकिटनिर्देशकेवलनाककाटेस्ट(SureScreen):COVID-19रैपिडटेस्टकिटनिर्देशगलेऔरनाककाटेस्ट:COVID-19रेपिडटेस्टकिटनिर्देशCOVID-19طرزالعملهایکیتتستسریع:(ACONFlowflex)فقطتستبینیCOVID-19طرزالعملهایکیتتستسریع:(OrientGene)فقطتستبینیCOVID-19طرزالعملهایکیتتستسریع:(SureScreen)فقطتستبینیCOVID-19تستگلووبینی:طرزالعملهایکیتتستسریعدګړندۍازموينېدکيټلارښوونېCOVID-19د:(ACONFlowflex)يوازېپوزېازموينهدګړندۍازموينېدکيټلارښوونېCOVID-19د:(OrientGene)يوازېپوزېازموينهدګړندۍازموينېدکيټلارښوونېCOVID-19د:(SureScreen)يوازېپوزېازموينهدګړندۍازموینېدکیټلارښوونېCOVID-19دستونېاوپوزېازموینه:د
Українська(Ukrainian)Див.покроковекерівництвозпроведенняекспрес-тесту:Polski(Polish)Znajdźprzewodnikikrokpokroku,jakwykonaćszybkitest:中文(简体(Chinese-Simplified)查找进行快速测试的分步指南:ਪੰਜਾਬੀ(Punjabi-Gurmukhi)ਰੈਪਿਡਟੈਸਟਕਰਨਲਈਕਦਮ-ਦਰ-ਕਦਮਗਾਈਡਾਂਲੱਭੋ:پن٘جابی(Punjabi-Shahmukhi):اکریپڈٹیسٹکرنلئیاپنامرحلہوارگائیڈلبھوRomâna(Romanian)Găsițighiduripascupaspentrutestelerapidela:العربية(Arabic):بحثعنأدلةتفصيليةحولإجراءاختبارسريعગુજરાતી(Gujarati)ઝડપીપરીક્ષણકરવામાટેપગલું-દર-પગલામાર્ગદર્શિકાઓશોધો:فارسی(Persian):افتنراهنماهایگامبهگامبرایانجامتستفوریاردو(Urdu):ریپڈٹیسٹکرنےکےلیےقدمبہقدمرہنماتلاشکریںSlovenčina(Slovak)Nájdetepodrobnýchsprievodcovrýchlymtestom:Türkçe(Turkish)Hızlı(rapid)testyapmakiçinadımadımrehberleriburadabulabilirsiniz:Cymraeg(Welsh)Dodohydiganllawiaufesulcamigynnalprawfcyflym:Soomaali(Somali)Raadihagayaashatallaabo-tallaaboahsiaadusameysobaaritaandegdegah:বাংলা(Bengali)দ্রুতপরীক্ষাকরারজন্যধাপেধাপেনির্দেশিকাগুলিপাবেনএখানে:हिंदी(Hindi)त्वरितपरीक्षणकरनेकेलिएचरण-दर-चरणगाइडप्राप्तकरें:دری(Dari):راهنمایقدمبهقدمبرایانجامتستسریعراببینیدپښتو(Pashto):دګړندۍازموینېلپارهګامپهګاملارښوونېوګورئ
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Removed the reference to the 119 service.
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Added video on how to do a nose-only test: Getein Biotech.
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Updated 119 contact hours.
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Added information on Getein Biotech rapid nose-only tests.
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Updated Innova and Surescreen videos to include British Sign Language (BSL).
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Updated 119 phone line opening hours.
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Added information about checking expiry dates on rapid lateral flow tests.
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Added links to Ukrainian versions of 'Throat and nose test: COVID-19 rapid test kit instructions' and 'Nose-only test (SureScreen): COVID-19 rapid test kit instructions'.
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Updated information to reflect changes in testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) in England.
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Updated 'Blue and white pack: throat and nose test' video to reflect changes to self-isolation guidance.
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Updated wording to reflect that rapid lateral flow tests are usually for people without symptoms of COVID-19.
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Added Be My Eyes app information: live video call with NHS Test and Trace staff to help people to take a COVID-19 test and report the result.
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Updated information about the video for SureScreen tests.
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Updated video links to reflect changes to confirmatory PCR rules.
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Added guidance on how to do a SureScreen rapid nose-only test and information on how to give test kit feedback or report harm.
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Updated wording to clarify that this guidance is for how to do a rapid test at home or at a test site.
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Removed information about MP Biomedicals rapid nose-only test.
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Added links to translated guides.
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Added Throat and nose test (Innova 25) for care home staff: COVID-19 rapid test kit instructions.
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Added information about ordering a rapid lateral flow test and how to do an MP Biomedicals rapid nose-only test. Added Dari and Pashto translated guides.
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Added information about the InterpreterNow service and that 119 provides support in 200 languages.
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Added information about how to do an ACON Flowflex rapid nose-only test. Updated information about the different types of rapid tests, checking which test you have and reporting your result.
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Updated to add information about checking with test you have, the different types of test and how to do a nose-only rapid lateral flow test, including videos and instructions.
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Changed page title, summary and body content to make it clear that the instructions are for a rapid later flow tests. Updated information on what to do when you get your result and reporting your results
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Added link to the self-test instructions for use and translated versions of it.
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