National testing effort

We are continuing to support the Government’s drive to reach 200,000 coronavirus tests performed daily by expanding our nationwide collection and delivery services.

Following a successful pilot in Truro, we are now rolling out our home collection service to more delivery offices across the country. More than 400 delivery offices will be on board by the end of this week.

Press play to watch our latest RMtv programme to hear from colleagues in Truro, who took part in the pilot.

Our postmen and women collect samples from people’s homes, seven days a week between 8am and 12pm. They are then processed through our network for arrival at the testing lab the following morning.  

Home collection is just one of three services we are providing to support the national testing effort. Royal Mail Relay collects samples from drive-through test centres around the country at the end of each day, transporting them directly to the designated testing labs early the following morning. 

People also have the option to post their home test kit sample into one of 13,000 priority postboxes Monday to Friday. They can locate their nearest priority postbox by scanning the QR code on the Tracked 24 Returns label. We have started an official trial of collection from priority postboxes with a view to ramping it up in the future.

We have worked with our unions to agree special processes for all these services that are safe for both colleagues and customers.