On-site testing service launched at Edinburgh Airport

Edinburgh Airport is first Scottish Airport to offer rapid Covid-19 screening services

Edinburgh Airport and ExpressTest (a division of Cignpost Diagnostics Ltd) have announced the launch of an on-site Covid testing service.

The site offers fast and accurate lateral flow and PCR testing and is located through the Covid Screening entrance to the left of the departures entrance.

PCR tests costs £99 per person for the general public, £80 per person for airline passengers and £60 per person for Edinburgh Airport staff. Lateral flow tests are available for £50 per person.

No booking is required for lateral flow tests as this is a walk-in service, customers will be asked to fill out their details and sign the consent form at the site. The customer will then be guided through to their testing booth by a member of ExpressTest staff, where they will be swabbed. The customer will then wait for 20 minutes and subject to the test result being negative, will receive a Fit to Fly certificate.

Customers who require a PCR test should book via the ExpressTest website prior to arrival. ExpressTest aim to deliver PCR test results by 10pm the day after the test, however, results could take up to 48 hours to receive.

ExpressTest is delivered using lateral flow tests and the latest gold standard PCR equipment that is all fully CE-IVD certified and manufactured to the highest possible standards. The tests are carried out by a trained screening practitioner in full PPE.

This ExpressTest service is available now but people in Scotland must continue to follow the latest government guidance, including travel restrictions, as laid out by the Scottish Government. This ExpressTest service will be an important aspect of the UK’s return to travel once restrictions are lifted.

ExpressTest was set up by its parent company, Cignpost Diagnostics, whose clients include Netflix, the BBC and the PGA European Tour. The company’s founders Nick Markham, Steve Whatley and Professor Denis Kinane, also the Chief Medical Officer, are now using their expertise to deliver world class testing to the general public.

Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport said: “Testing will form an important part of travel for the foreseeable future and providing that facility at airports will form part of our business as normal plans.

“Introducing this on-site will make things easier for those people who are either carrying out essential travel or who return to travel when it is safe to do so.”

Nick Markham, Founder of ExpressTest said: “As a growing number of airlines and destinations now require a negative lateral flow test as well as a negative PCR test to be able to travel, we are very excited to be supporting Edinburgh airport in offering these services.

“We hope that these testing services will play a big role in helping to lift the travel restrictions currently in place, and we’re delighted to be able to offer safe and reliable services to the public.”

Opening hours are 10am – 6pm.