All students on campus are strongly encouraged to take lateral flow tests every day if you don’t have symptoms. It is important to have some lateral flow tests at home with you. You canorder a pack online and you can collect free home test kits on campus.

Pick up free home testing kits from campus: 
 
Library collection point: Mondays to Thursdays 13:00 – 16:00
  
Please note: If you are a member of staff please see the information for colleagues on the Staff Portal.  
 
Why am I being asked to take a test? 
 
Research shows that 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 display no symptoms, so it is important that you keep regularly testing to ensure that you are not unknowingly carrying the virus, and potentially passing it on to others.

Regular testing is strongly encouraged for all students on campus, even if you have received COVID-19 vaccines.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID- 19, you should take a PCR test as soon as possible, rather than a lateral flow test.

It is important to register your result on the government website – whether it is positive or negative. 

If you receive a positive result from a lateral flow test, you must let us know using our online form.

Where can I get a lateral flow test?
 
You can find a local site offering supervised tests on the NHS website.  
 
On campus 
 
You can collect a pack of seven test kits from the Library collection point, Mondays to Thursdays 13:00 – 16:00. 
 
When collecting your kits, you are required to scan your Campus Card. The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) requires the University to collect certain information about people collecting test kits, and we are processing this on their instructions. We may need to contact you if, for example, any faulty test kits need to be recalled. View the DHSC privacy notice. 
 
It's really important to keep your contact details up to date on RISIS - in particular your mobile phone number - so we can contact you if needed. 
 
The government recommends that you take three tests at a testing centre to familiarise yourself with the process, before using home test kits.  You can find a local site offering supervised tests on the NHS website. 
 
By post 
 
If you can’t collect a test kit from campus, you can order a pack of seven test kits from the NHS to be delivered to your home quickly by post. 
 
From a local pharmacy 
 
You can also collect test its from many local pharmacies, including: 

Closest to Shinfield Road: 
• Lloyds Pharmacy, 69 Christchurch Road, Reading, RG2 7AZ 
• Enimed, 85-87 Erleigh Road, Reading, RG1 5NN 
• P.S.G Pharma, 105 Wokingham Road, Reading, RG6 1LN 

Closest to Earley Gate: 
- Boots, 5 The Parade, Silverdale Road, Earley, RG6 7NZ 

Closest to London Road: 
• Enimed, 195 London Road, Reading, RG1 3NX 
 
To find out about other pharmacies near you offering test kits, please visit the government website.
 
How do I report my result? 
 
The test usually takes around 30 minutes to produce a result. If you take a test at home, it is very important that you report your test result on the government website – whether it is positive or negative. 

On the government website you will be asked to select the University you study or work at. Type ‘University of Reading’ and then please select the option with the postcode ‘RG6 6UR’. 

We recommend you create an account on the government website so which will make it quicker to report your test results each time.

If you test positive from a lateral flow test: 

You should self-isolate immediately, and follow government and NHS guidance that applies to your situation.

You must also let us know about your positive result using our online form.

Your household may also need to self-isolate too, please encourage your household to check the latest government guidance. Please let the university know about your positive result by completing our online form.

If you test negative, please still report your test result on the government website.