Lateral Flow Testing (LFT)

This page was last updated on 24 January 2023.

  • We continue to encourage people to test if they:
    • have symptoms;
    • are a contact of a case as well as a health and care worker;
    • or visiting vulnerable people
  • This will help keep our community safe.
  • There is no need for daily general surveillance testing for members of the community, so we would ask individuals and businesses to take a proportionate approach to the use of LFTs.

Where can I get an LFT pack?

Visitors to care and residential homes, hospital or the Prison will be provided with an LFT from those settings.

For symptomatic people a pack of 5 individual tests will be provided per household (rather than boxes of 25). A symptom free member of your household or friend will be able to collect from Beau Sejour. If you don’t have a household member or friend who can collect an LFT for you, please call the COVID helpline for further assistance on 220001 option 1.

Business testing

We are aware that some businesses have policies in place asking/expecting staff to LFT regularly, or even daily, before attending work. This practice is not aligned with current Public Health guidance.

If businesses wish to continue to test staff outside of Public Health guidance, they will need to purchase their own LFT stocks commercially. The States of Guernsey does not hold any stock that is available to purchase.

Collection points

In Guernsey, LFTs are available to collect from Beau Sejour Leisure Centre during normal opening times: 6.30am - 11pm Monday to Friday, 7.15am - 10.45pm on Saturday and 7.30am - 8pm on Sunday.

In Alderney, LFTs are available to collect from the Island Medical Practice, chemist, charity shop and tourism office during normal opening hours.

When should I take an LFT?

Lateral flow testing is now only required in the following circumstances:

  • If you are symptomatic (if the test is negative, please repeat after 24 hours)
  • If you are health and care worker and a household contact of a positive cases (LFT on Day 1 and thereafter only if symptomatic).
  • If you are visiting someone in hospital or a Care Home (do not visit if you are unwell or symptomatic)

I have had a positive Lateral Flow Test (LFT)

If you receive a positive LFT please notify the States of Guernsey via either the clinical helpline (01481 220001 or 01481 220002) or the online form at https://www.gov.gg/covidnotification

Read more here: I am a positive case | States of Guernsey - COVID-19 (gov.gg)

Lateral Flow Testing step-by-step guides

Easy read guide for explaining self-testing to children

For the latest education gudance please go to: Education guidance | States of Guernsey - COVID-19 (gov.gg)

Lateral Flow Testing step-by-step video guides

Lateral Flow Testing – Surescreen

Lateral Flow Testing – Siemens

Lateral Flow Testing – Hughes

Lateral Flow Testing – Innova

Lateral Flow Testing - Flowflex (credit: Acon Biotech YouTube channel)

COVID-19 contacts

COVID-19 Helpline

Monday to Friday 10:00-14:00

Email inbox monitored Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00

Please send clinical questions to publichealth@gov.gg  all non-clinical questions to covid19enquiries@gov.gg