Do you work for the NHS? Are you a care home resident? You can now book a test online, even if you don't have symptoms.

You can get a throat and nose swab test for whether you currently have coronavirus. This is part of the 5-pillar strategy for coronavirus testing. Testing is most effective within 3 days of symptoms developing.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested

Arrange a test if you’re an essential worker

The self-referral test booking route is available for essential workers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The employer-referral test booking route is available for essential workers in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Self-referral

Apply for a coronavirus test if you’re an essential worker

You should be able to choose between a drive-through appointment and home test kit.

Book a drive-through test appointment if you have a verification code

Employer referral

The employer referral portal allows employers to refer essential workers who are self-isolating either because they or member(s) of their household have coronavirus symptoms, for testing.

The employer referral portal is a secure portal for employers to use to upload the full list of names and contact details of self-isolating essential workers.

If referred through this portal, essential workers will receive a text message with a unique invitation code to book a test for themselves (if symptomatic) or their symptomatic household member(s) at a regional testing site.

In order to obtain a login, employers of essential workers should email [email protected] with:

• organisation name
• nature of the organisation’s business
• region
• names (where possible) and email addresses of the 2 users who will load essential worker contact details

Once employer details have been verified, 2 login credentials will be issued for the employer referral portal.

The testing process

The test involves taking a swab of the nose and the back of the throat, which can be done by the person themselves (self-administered) or by someone else (assisted).

The different ways you can get tested are covered below.

Regional testing sites

We are establishing a network of drive-through regional testing sites.

Watch a video explaining the process for drive-through testing:

Coronavirus tests for essential workers

Home testing

Home test kits can be delivered to someone’s door so they can test themselves and their family without leaving the house. Home test kit availability will be initially limited, but more will become available.

If you have been delivered a home testing kit or have been given a self-test kit at a regional test site, here is a tutorial video that supports the written instructions in your pack, from Dr Amir Khan:

How to take a coronavirus self-test swab

Mobile testing units

Mobile testing units travel around the UK to increase access to coronavirus testing. They respond to need, travelling to test essential workers at sites including care homes, police stations and prisons.

New units are being brought into operation each day.

Satellite centres

NHS capability is being increased by providing test kits directly to ‘satellite’ centres at places like hospitals that have a particularly urgent or significant need.

NHS facilities

Testing within an NHS facility such as a hospital is available for patients and some NHS workers.

Across all these testing methods, there is a network of couriers who collect the completed samples and deliver them safely to one of our laboratories. The swab samples are analysed at our labs and the result is communicated back to the individual.

We aim to return test results within 48 hours of a swab being taken, or within 72 hours for a home test.

Care homes: England

In England, all registered adult care homes can apply for coronavirus tests.

You should contact your local Health Protection Team (HPT) if:

• you suspect your care home has a new coronavirus outbreak
• it has been 28 days or longer since your last case and you have new cases

Your HPT will provide advice and arrange the first tests.

For testing in other situations, you should apply for testing kits following the instructions below.