Your coronavirus test result

This information is about coronavirus (COVID-19) swab tests.

Getting your test result

How long it takes to get your result depends on the type of test you had. There are 2 types of swab test.

Rapid lateral flow tests

Rapid lateral flow tests (LFTs) use a device similar to a pregnancy test to give a quick result. They're only for people who do not have symptoms.

If you did a rapid lateral flow test at home, you can see your result after 30 minutes. Understand more about rapid lateral flow tests on GOV.UK

If you did the test at a test site, you should get a text or email with your result within 2 hours. Get another test if you do not get your result within 12 hours.

PCR tests

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are mainly for people who have symptoms. They're sent to a lab to be checked.

Most people get their result the next day, but it may take up to 3 days.

You'll usually get a text or email with your result when it's ready. If you use the NHS COVID-19 app, you may also get your result in the app.

If you do not get your result by day 6, call:

• 119 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
• 0300 303 2713 (Scotland)

The call centre is open from 7am to 11pm.

Negative test result

A negative result means the test did not find signs of coronavirus.

You do not usually need to self-isolate if you get a negative result. But this does not guarantee you do not have coronavirus, so you must keep following all social distancing advice.

You may still need to self-isolate after a negative test if:

• someone you live with has tested positive or has symptoms and has not had a test yet – find out how long to self-isolate
• you've been told you've been in contact with someone who tested positive – find out what to do if you're told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace
• you're going into hospital – keep self-isolating until you go in
• you've recently travelled to England from abroad – find out how to quarantine when you arrive in England on GOV.UK

If you still feel unwell after a negative test, stay at home until you're feeling better. Contact a GP if your symptoms get worse or do not go away.

If you're being sick, have diarrhoea or have a high temperature, stay at home until 48 hours after they've stopped.

Check with your employer before going back to work.

If you get coronavirus symptoms after the test, you need to get tested again.

Positive test result

A positive result means it's likely you had coronavirus when the test was done. You and anyone you live with must self-isolate immediately.

What you need to do next depends on the type of test you had and where you had it.

Sample could not be read or void test result

If your sample could not be read or you got a void result, it's not possible to say if you had coronavirus when the test was done.

What you need to do depends on the type of test you had.