Lloydspharmacy to roll out £150 PCR tests ‘in the next few weeks’
Lloydspharmacy will introduce a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in-pharmacy test across its pharmacies “in the next few weeks”, it has told C+D.
The multiple started selling at-home PCR swab test kits through its Online Doctor service last year. One test kit is priced at £119, including delivery.
In-clinic tests are currently available from Lloydspharmacy’s MASTA sites – priced at £150 per person. They will be “rolled out across all Lloydspharmacy stores in the next few weeks”, a spokesperson for the multiple told C+D yesterday (April 13).
The current price of the in-pharmacy test is £150, the spokesperson added.
Pharmacy Collect versus private PCR service
As of the end of last week, all Lloydspharmacy branches are also signed up to offer free lateral flow test kits via the Pharmacy Collect service.
“It is currently too early to tell how the free NHS lateral [flow] test may affect the uptake of the private PCR testing,” the spokesperson said.
“The two services are used for different reasons. For example, the certified tests – particularly the PCR services – are for those wanting to travel abroad. As this is an evolving situation, we will continue to monitor and adapt our services as the need for certified testing changes,” they added.
PCR tests in 160 Well pharmacies
Well launched a PCR in-pharmacy test priced at £120 in December last year. This test was initially available for purchase at 30 pharmacies, but the service was rolled out to a further 130 pharmacies shortly afterwards, a spokesperson told C+D yesterday.
The PCR in-pharmacy test service performed well in December, but the multiple saw a drop in demand following the government’s announcements on travelling abroad, the spokesperson added.
All 570 Well pharmacies are also signed up to the Pharmacy Collect service, the multiple confirmed.
Boots: PCR tests at almost 200 branches
Boots was the first multiple to introduce in-branch PCR-tests last year, now priced at £99.
A spokesperson told C+D today that almost 200 branches are now offering this service. However, its rapid antigen test service – which the multiple told C+D last year it was hoping to roll out across 50 branches – is currently only available at five pharmacies, “with more to come”.
Boots also offers at-home PCR tests from its website at the price of £95.
More than 1,500 branches are also offering the Pharmacy Collect service and additional pharmacies will sign up in the future, the spokesperson added.
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