Tesco to stock £2 lateral flow tests from Friday
Tesco is to stock £2 lateral flow tests supplied by Cheshire firm from April 1.
The supermarket giant signed a deal with healthcare firm Everything Genetic, as the government ends access to free lateral flows.
The £2 kits, which are “less than a price of a takeaway coffee” will be available in more than 1,500 stores across the UK, as well as online customers in London. It will be rolled out nationally in May.
Coinciding with the in-store launch, the tests will initially be available for online customers in London, before being rolled out online nationwide from May onwards.
Everything Genetic said the tests report a clinical performance of 96.1% sensitivity and 100% specificity when detecting Covid-19 and have recently received approval under the UK Health Security Agency’s Medical Devices Regulations 2021 (CTDA).
Chief executive James Price said: “The gradual easing of the UK’s Covid restrictions has brought with it a subsequent rise in cases across the country, especially in recent weeks.
“As a result, thousands of individuals across the UK will still want the peace of mind that the fast, efficient and accurate LFT devices can provide.
“Although Covid tests won’t be free after April 1st, the importance and demand for using them to accurately gain a rapid insight into our health will continue for some time.
“The very nature of the tests mean they can be used at-need to provide a fast, efficient and reliable result of positivity.
“As the kits will now be positioned in convenient Tesco retail locations up and down the country, they’ll be readily available at a moment’s notice for anyone wanting to get tested.
“As a business, our overarching ambition is to democratise testing, whether testing for Covid or through our other side of the business, testing for hereditary diseases.
“Bringing down the cost price for these tests to less than a price of a takeaway coffee, could help us realise those ambitions, and we’re delighted to provide Tesco’s customers with access to reliable, accurate and affordable tests.”
