England’s Birmingham Airport has launched a rapid testing centre in collaboration with ExpressTest, a division of Cignpost Diagnostics.

The site is situated in the airport’s south terminal in the departures area.

The testing centre, which will be open from 10am to 6pm, will offer quick and accurate lateral flow and PCR testing to staff, general public and passengers.

Lateral flow tests will be available for £50 per person whereas PCR testing will cost £99 per person for the non-passenger public and £80 per person for passengers.

Airport staff can get a PCR test for £60.

In the case of lateral flow testing, no booking will be needed as it is a walk-in service.

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At the site, customers will be required to fill out their details and sign the consent form. A member of ExpressTest staff will then take the customer to the testing booth for swabbing. After 20 minutes, the customer will receive a Fit to Fly certificate if the test result is negative.

For PCR testing, customers will be required to make prior bookings via the ExpressTest website.

PCR test results will be given by 10pm the day after the test. Results may take up to 48 hours to be delivered to the customer, however.

ExpressTest is an official private testing provider registered on the Government’s Test to Release list and uses fully CE-IVD certified lateral flow tests and the newest gold standard PCR equipment, manufactured to the highest possible standards.

Terminal operations director Al Titterington said: “We are pleased to partner with ExpressTest to offer our customers, that are legally permitted to travel, the opportunity to take Covid-19 tests that are required for foreign travel or to shorten their time in quarantine after arrival into the UK.

“We have ensured that ExpressTest can offer the different types of test that are required for worldwide travel and being on the government-affiliated private testing provider list, customers can rest assured of the standard and accuracy of these tests.”

ExpressTest founder Nick Markham said: “We hope that these rapid 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.

“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 pleased to be supporting Birmingham Airport in offering both these services.”

Meanwhile, Birmingham City Council has agreed to provide a loan of £18.5m to Birmingham Airport.

This comes after the airport experienced low performance due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The new loan arrangement will be confirmed by the city’s cabinet on 9 February.