 Poster: A snowHead
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Starting a new thread for this just in case my other question isn't spotted.
Has anyone used an in-person PCR-testing centre which is convenient to Eurotunnel arrivals at Folkstone? I'll arrive around 6pm and would like to get an immediate PCR test done somewhere nearby to increase the chances of getting the result back the following day.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You could try the Express-test drive through at Gatwick. I see there is also a "walk through" at Bluewater, Dartford. I think the Gatwick one is open till 8pm-it takes about an hour and 15 mins to drive there from the tunnel-perhaps it's a bit of a detour for you if you're heading to London..
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@rob@rar, there seems to be a Randox Health Covid-19 Test Dropbox, at the m25 clacket lane service centres, along with the HGV testing site.
i haven't a scooby doo what it entails, but maybe something to look into
https://motorwayservices.uk/Clacket_Lane
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@terrygasson, ah, that's much more convenient, we drive past and sometimes stop at Clackett Lane. Thanks, wouldn't have thought of that option, will investigate further. Buying their test kit prior to our travel then doing the test when we get to their drop box might be a good option.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@rob@rar, but will they send you the arrival test before you travel? All providers I've checked will post it in time for your arrival.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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www.hopetravelclinic.co.uk based in Folkestone - roughly 15 mins drive from Tunnel offer testing.
Have not used them personally, but have a friend who used them for a fit to fly PCR - everything went smoothly.
Most of the chit chat is around people who are flying - would be good to get some more personal experiences / advice etc from people driving using Tunnel and Ferry.
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| Dippy wrote: |
www.hopetravelclinic.co.uk based in Folkestone - roughly 15 mins drive from Tunnel offer testing.
Have not used them personally, but have a friend who used them for a fit to fly PCR - everything went smoothly.
Most of the chit chat is around people who are flying - would be good to get some more personal experiences / advice etc from people driving using Tunnel and Ferry. |
Any information would be very helpful.
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| Oleski wrote: |
| @rob@rar, but will they send you the arrival test before you travel? All providers I've checked will post it in time for your arrival. |
Good question. I assumed I could get one posted to me prior to travelling. Will have to confirm that.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Dippy wrote: |
www.hopetravelclinic.co.uk based in Folkestone - roughly 15 mins drive from Tunnel offer testing.
Have not used them personally, but have a friend who used them for a fit to fly PCR - everything went smoothly. |
Thanks, that's great, will take a look.
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Following… Hi Rob!
Just checked out Hope. I think unfortunately say they don’t offer day 2 tests
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Following. Driving out on Friday and returning following Saturday before repeating again on the 26th. Think we’ve got the outbound sorted but need to sort out day 2 pcr’s as supposedly hosting my elderly FIL over Christmas. Any suggestions on expaditedntests welcome.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| jayne durham wrote: |
Following… Hi Rob!
Just checked out Hope. I think unfortunately say they don’t offer day 2 tests |
Hi Jayne, hope you and Steve are well. Shame about Hope, the search continues.
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@rob@rar, chronomics have a drop off location in Ashford, but it's open only till 17:30 (16:00 Sunday) https://help.chronomics.com/drop-off-locations
Doesn't work for us, but may be doable for you?
The question of whether they will send the kit in advance remains 
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You know it makes sense.
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| Oleski wrote: |
@rob@rar, chronomics have a drop off location in Ashford, but it's open only till 17:30 (16:00 Sunday) https://help.chronomics.com/drop-off-locations
Doesn't work for us, but may be doable for you?
The question of whether they will send the kit in advance remains |
I think that's probably a bit too early for me to reach before their last collection. It's the same with Randox. Several very convenient locations to drop off their test kits, but they all seem to close by 5pm or earlier and I won't be able to get there on time.
Still looking for options...
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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We have a local post office that is open till 22:00, so will do the test when home and drop off there.
There is a good chance the kids will miss the first day at school, but I am not going to lose my sleep over this.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Oleski, I haven't been able to find any in-person test centre near Folkestone or on my way home which stays open beyond 6pm. There are test centres at Gatwick and Heathrow which stay open until 8pm, which would be OK if everything ran to schedule on our drive home, but if there was any delay we'd probably miss our appointment and that would be a complete pain to resolve.
Beginning to think that an early morning in-person test the day after we get home is the best option.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I put this in the Cardiff to Dorset thread, but it's more appropriate here, so I'll repeat incase it helps anyone else...
We've decided on https://www.expresstest.co.uk/book-a-test/?activeFilter=2
This time they have a test Centre at Bluewater shopping centre, to the south of the Dartford bridge/tunnel. They're open till 9PM, so assuming your chunnel lands before about 7PM (departs France before 7:30PM) you should easily be able to make it before they close, and then have the results by 10pm the following day. So only one day of Covid Jail.
Of course the idea of going to Bluewater in the days running up to Christmas might be your idea of hell. 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Can you get a Randox test kit delivered for click and collect (There is a BP garage in Folkestone open 24 hours), take the test on the go and drop at a box?
My plan seemed solid but when you go to checkout it won't allow click and collect at that garage.
As we arrive in the UK on a Saturday, trying to get the samples sent on the Saturday, with results Monday, Rather than arrive Saturday, then have to wait all Sunday, send tests Monday and have to stay at home till Tuesday.....
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Topper, Welcome to snowHeads.
Having looked at different options I wasn’t able to find either a walk-in test centre or a drop-box which was open / had a collection late enough so that we get the PCR sample in to their system on the day we arrive. We are due to arrive at Folkestone Eurotunnel around 6pm. All the drop-boxes that I found had a last collection no later than 5.30pm, and the walk-in test centres convenient for my route mostly closed by 7pm, none of which I could guarantee to get to on time. My plan B is to book an early morning test at one of the Heathrow test centres (I live nearby) the day after we get home, as this seems to be the quickest way I can get my PCR sample in to the system.
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| Quote: |
@Topper, Welcome to snowHeads.
Having looked at different options I wasn’t able to find either a walk-in test centre or a drop-box which was open / had a collection late enough so that we get the PCR sample in to their system on the day we arrive. We are due to arrive at Folkestone Eurotunnel around 6pm. All the drop-boxes that I found had a last collection no later than 5.30pm, and the walk-in test centres convenient for my route mostly closed by 7pm, none of which I could guarantee to get to on time. My plan B is to book an early morning test at one of the Heathrow test centres (I live nearby) the day after we get home, as this seems to be the quickest way I can get my PCR sample in to the system.
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Cheers Rob. I live in Torquay, so was hoping to be able to pick up a test, take it and drop off enroute. I arrive in Folkestone 11h.
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| Topper wrote: |
| Cheers Rob. I live in Torquay, so was hoping to be able to pick up a test, take it and drop off enroute. I arrive in Folkestone 11h. |
Plenty of drop-boxes enroute for you with that timing. The Randox ones I looked at had final collections between 4pm and 5.30pm. All too early for me, but for you I think that’s a workable option.
Can you order the PCR test kit ahead of time so you can take it with you, rather than trying to get a collection point near Folkestone?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
Plenty of drop-boxes enroute for you with that timing. The Randox ones I looked at had final collections between 4pm and 5.30pm. All too early for me, but for you I think that’s a workable option.
Can you order the PCR test kit ahead of time so you can take it with you, rather than trying to get a collection point near Folkestone?
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Yeah the drop off is no issue, but I'm in France now so couldn't get a kit delivered here.
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@Topper, if you can face routing via the M25 then you can get a 3-hr test at Heathrow (for £59), so you'll have the result before you get home. That's my plan, even though it adds an hour to my journey.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I did look at that. What put me off is the going to Heathrow part.
What company are you using in heathrow?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| snowdave wrote: |
| @Topper, if you can face routing via the M25 then you can get a 3-hr test at Heathrow (for £59), so you'll have the result before you get home. That's my plan, even though it adds an hour to my journey. |
Have you checked whether that test meets the UK requirement for a Day-2 Arrivals test? Most of the rapid test services at Heathrow don’t meet the requirements as they don’t look for the S-Gene Target Failure which would give first indication of an Omicron infection. The only rapid test at Heathrow which does seem to identify SGTF is the Halo service which is inconveniently located at a hotel attached to Terminal 5 rather than a perimeter road hotel.
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@Topper, @rob@rar, I'm using Halo. I'll park at the Sofitel itself; it's more convenient for me (coming off the M25) than the perimeter road which is a congested nightmare of traffic lights, buses and random lane changes 
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You know it makes sense.
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@snowdave, is it possible to park at the Sofitel if you’re just there for for a spit test? I’d not thought of that, and the hassle of parking at T5 with the new access charge put me off. But if I can go straight to the Sofitel that’s a good option.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@rob@rar, you can park at the Sofitel for the restaurant, for conferences, for meetings etc., so I can't see why it will be a problem for a test. It's paid-for parking, so either way the hotel gets its pound of flesh.
In the context of my testing bill for the next fortnight (with a teenager in France), parking fees and access charges don't move the dial...
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Poster: A snowHead
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@snowdave, OK, that’s great. That might be my best option. When are you planning on using their service? Would appreciate any feedback if it’s before 28 December, when I’ll need to test.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@rob@rar, sorry, not till early Jan. Unless the rules change again!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| snowdave wrote: |
| @rob@rar, sorry, not till early Jan. Unless the rules change again! |
OK, I'll let you know how I get on, unless there's a rule change before the end of the month!
I've sent a message to Halo to ask about tests by people who aren't landing at Heathrow so will let you know if they respond. I'm trying to get a rapid test as we have a family event on the evening of the 28th, so if Halo can get me a result within three or four hours that would be great. As nobody else in the area seems to do an approved rapid test for Day-2 it looks like Halo is my only option.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| snowdave wrote: |
| @Topper, if you can face routing via the M25 then you can get a 3-hr test at Heathrow (for £59), so you'll have the result before you get home. That's my plan, even though it adds an hour to my journey. |
Have you checked whether that test meets the UK requirement for a Day-2 Arrivals test? Most of the rapid test services at Heathrow don’t meet the requirements as they don’t look for the S-Gene Target Failure which would give first indication of an Omicron infection. The only rapid test at Heathrow which does seem to identify SGTF is the Halo service which is inconveniently located at a hotel attached to Terminal 5 rather than a perimeter road hotel. |
Are your sure of this? Eurofins website says their day 2 is valid.
I've booked eurofins heathrow drive through pcr day 2 for arrival a few hours after getting of eurotunnel so this concerns me, I've emailed Eurofins to see what they say.
Their email order confirmation also reckons results are closer to 3 hrs than the 12-24 hours stated on the website.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I've got a couple of Randox tests leftover from the Summer, I'm taking them with us, and will probably take the tests when we're under the sea, and drop them off in the 1st post box we find.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| JohnF wrote: |
| rob@rar wrote: |
| snowdave wrote: |
| @Topper, if you can face routing via the M25 then you can get a 3-hr test at Heathrow (for £59), so you'll have the result before you get home. That's my plan, even though it adds an hour to my journey. |
Have you checked whether that test meets the UK requirement for a Day-2 Arrivals test? Most of the rapid test services at Heathrow don’t meet the requirements as they don’t look for the S-Gene Target Failure which would give first indication of an Omicron infection. The only rapid test at Heathrow which does seem to identify SGTF is the Halo service which is inconveniently located at a hotel attached to Terminal 5 rather than a perimeter road hotel. |
Are your sure of this? Eurofins website says their day 2 is valid. |
Is it a rapid test (3 hours until the result)? All the main test centres are offering approved Day-2 tests, but as far as I can tell none of them are rapid tests, offering a 3-hour turnaround. The say they will get the result to you the day after you take the test. The only exception to this is the Halo test service based at Heathrow Terminal 5, which uses a different PCR technology (it's a spit test, not a swab) and is a rapid Day-2 approved test.
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Hadn't seen eurofins, would've been ideal to stop into Asford centre on the way through but fully booked on the day i arrive.
Any other similar companies in the area or is it going to be a Heathrow airport detour for me....?
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OK I re-read their confirmation email and the 3 hr result is for their Antigen test, which I didn't even order, very confusing for my tiny little brain. So the eurofins pcr day 2 Heathrow drive through result is 12-24 hours.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Topper, there'a a Randox drop box at Maidstone Services, but it shuts at 15.45 . Late enough for us if we aren't delayed.
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| Quote: |
there'a a Randox drop box at Maidstone Services, but it shuts at 15.45 . Late enough for us if we aren't delayed.
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Yep, but just need to get the tests in between now and getting to the drop box on Saturday.
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FAQ
