40 Wilbury Road, Hove, BN3 3JP, UK
Private General Practice Call Now: 01273 733 830
Private Covid-19 Testing nationwide
Book your COVID-19 RT-PCR, or IgG/IgM Antibody Test With Us Today
You can now book your COVID-19 test with us online. Further details are available by clicking the button below.
The Hove Practice is UKAS & CQC registered for your peace of mind.
We are very happy to arrange RT PCR and Antibody COVID-19 testing along with same-day virtual consultations with our General Practitioners for patients in Brighton, Hove and across the United Kingdom.
Appointments can be booked online, alternatively please either:
Call: 01273 733830
Email: reception@thehovepractice.co.uk
We are not yet certified for "Test to Release"pending this element of our UKAS application. We will update this page as soon as this changes.
Coronavirus COVID-19 Testing
At the Hove Practice, our Private GPs are pleased to bring you one of the very first Public Health England approved and validated suites of COVID-19 tests capable of accurately identifying the presence of both current and past infection. This includes Gold Standard RT PCR and antibody tests.
We are an UKAS accredited centre and our coronavirus tests are are processed by The Doctors Laboratory (a Public Health England approved laboratory and the largest independent diagnostic laboratory in the UK) giving us (and you) absolute confidence in the result, within the limits of what is currently known about this novel infection.
Not yet our patient? Not a problem!
We are very happy to register you at the Hove Practice in order to arrange your COVID-19 test. Registration is free and quick; and our helpful staff are ready to assist you if necessary. There is no ongoing obligation or commitment for you to use our services whatsoever and you do not have to live in Brighton and Hove to use us. We have helped many people from London and beyond.
RT-PCR Testing: Travel, Immigration and Official Certification Purposes or COVID-19 Symptoms
Professionally Observed Work, Travel, Immigration and Official testing with certification for patients WITHOUT symptoms of Covid-19 and ALL children 7 years of age and under
The RT-PCR COVID-19 test is considered the "Gold Standard" for COVID-19 detection and is the bench-mark used by the majority of international authorities and the UK Government.
Increasingly, well people, without COVID-19 symptoms, require a RT-PCR test for work, travel and immigration purposes. This test should be professionally overseen with confirmation of valid photographic identification.
To maximise your safety and minimise the potential risk of unwitting COVID-19 transmission to our patients and staff, we are pleased to offer a "drive through" service for this. Sadly, we can not perform this test within the practice due to the implications of a possible positive test result.
You will attend the practice, and remain in your vehicle for the test. An experienced Hove Practice professional will meet you at your car, verify your identification (passport or driver's licence) and expertly oversee the throat and nasal swab which you will perform yourself with their support and instruction. You must attend the practice in a vehicle in order to undertake this test.
This test can be booked by calling the practice, emailing reception@thehovepractice.co.uk or completing the pop up "ask a question" speech box in the right hand corner of this page. Please remember to include a contact telephone number.
The option for this method of testing is:
1. Test overseen by The Hove Practice, verification of photographic identification and doctor signed and certified pdf document by email (signed and stamped hard copies are available on request at no additional charge): £250
Turn around times:
***14th January 2021 UPDATE. Our laboratory is returning results within 24 hours of receipt in most cases. Despite this, we strongly advise taking the swab as early as your circumstances allow. We continue to report them as soon as they are recieved, including over weekends.****
We offer test appointments from 13.00 hours each weekday (Saturday: 09.30-11.00 hours).
The swab is sent directly to the laboratory via courier at the end of the day and is recieved around 23.00 hours.
The laboratory quotes a 48 hour processing time from their receipt, this means time from swab to receipt may exceed 48 hours.
We anticipate results will be available from 10.00 hours the morning of receipt. (You will be contacted to confirm a collection time for the hard copy of your certified letter).
We prioritise the reporting of Observed RT-PCR Tests over Home Tests due to their time critical nature.
Sample Day Result
Monday Thursday
Tuesday Friday
Wednesday Saturday (Pre-arranged morning collection only)
Thursday Sunday
Friday Monday
Saturday Tuesday
*Thursday swab test certificates are emailed over the weekend according to our usual timescales, but paper copies can not be collected until Monday. You are very welcome to print a copy of the signed emailed pdf certificate, if necessary.
Please note: The Hove Practice can not accept any responsibility for delays or expenses incurred as a result of receiving your result outside of the quoted timescales or the submission of an unprocessable sample or a positive swab result. We will endeavour to provide the result according to the estimated timescales but are unable to control for rare events that may affect the courier or laboratory. The laboratory has been experiencing an unprecedented level of demand due to the national shortage of PCR tests, as a result our estimated timescales may be affected without warning. By booking a PCR test through the Hove Practice you acknowledge and accept that The Hove Practice can not be held responsible for the consequences of a delayed, unprocessable or positive result at this extremely challenging time.
Once a swab has been performed, it is non-refundable.
All patients purchasing these tests must use their own judgment regarding the best date to purchase, perform and return the test to us/post it to the laboratory. The Hove Practice can not advise on, and do not take any responsibility for, any test timings and their associated outcomes including (but not limited to) the effect on travel, business or personal plans.
Please ensure you follow Government advice if you are concerned you may be symptomatic of COVID-19.
Cancellation fee notice: We understand that your travel plans may change suddenly in these uncertain times. To reflect this, cancellation of a test will only incur a £25 administration fee for the whole affected party, whether 1 individual or more. We ask that you provide us with as much notice as possible as there are likely other patients and travellers in need of your appointment.
Home Testing for Symptoms of COVID-19 infection:
If you are concerned that you may be suffering from COVID-19, this is the test you require. This throat & nose swab tests for current infection and is sent directly to your home or can be collected on your behalf by an individual who is not required to quarantine according to government regulations.
We are striving to keep The Hove Practice COVID-19 free for our patients and staff.
We do not offer RT-PCR testing for current infection at the Practice as it should be performed during a time when patients are self-isolating at home. The timing of the swab is important in order to get as accurate result as possible. Currently, it is thought the best window to detect COVID-19 is between days 3-8 of symptoms (ie cough/fever/unwell) if you have it. This may change as more information becomes available.
If you are interested in the science behind medical testing and COVID-19, please see this fascinating BMJ article. RT-PCR antigen testing is the "Gold Standard" for COVID-19 detection and is used by the UK Government but is not perfect.
You will receive a pack via post/collection containing comprehensive instructions on how to perform the swab and how to return it in the packaging provided via a standard post box, directly to The Doctors Laboratory, London for rapid processing.
The result is quoted by the laboratory as available 48 hours after the swab arrives at the laboratory and communicated to you via email shortly afterwards.
***14th January 2021 UPDATE. Our laboratory is returning results within 24 hours of receipt in most cases. Despite this, we strongly advise taking the swab as early as your circumstances allow. We continue to report them as soon as they are recieved, including over weekends.****
The options for this test are:
1. Test kit and e-mailed result: £150 including postage.
2. Test kit and (up to) 15 minute telephone consultation before sending the kit, to enable full exploration of your symptoms, suitability of the test to your circumstances and directions on performing it, advice regarding self-care and when to seek further help. A further (up to) 15 minute telephone consultation is included after receiving the result to discuss it further and update your doctor on your symptoms: Test Kit £130 including postage plus £140 consultation fee (£270 total).
Please note, the letter confirming a Home Testing result is clearly marked as unobserved and unverified by a doctor. It is not considered suitable for immigration/travel or official purposes.
Please note: The Hove Practice can not accept any responsibility for delays or expenses incurred as a result of receiving your result outside of the quoted timescales or the submission of an unprocessable sample or a positive swab result. We will endeavour to provide the result according to the estimated timescales but are unable to control for rare events that may affect the courier or laboratory. The laboratory has been experiencing an unprecedented level of demand due to the national shortage of PCR tests, as a result our estimated timescales may be affected without warning. By booking a PCR test through the Hove Practice you acknowledge and accept that The Hove Practice can not be held responsible for the consequences of a delayed, unprocessable or positive result at this extremely challenging time.
Once a swab has been collected or sent from The Hove Practice, it is non-refundable.
All patients purchasing these tests must use their own judgment regarding the best date to purchase, perform and return the test to us/post it to the laboratory. The Hove Practice can not advise on, and do not take any responsibility for, any test timings and their associated outcomes including (but not limited to) the effect on travel, business or personal plans.
Please ensure you follow Government advice if you are concerned you may be symptomatic of COVID-19.
Cancellation fee notice: We understand that your travel plans may change suddenly in these uncertain times. To reflect this, cancellation of a test will only incur a £25 administration fee for the whole affected party, whether 1 individual or more. We ask that you provide us with as much notice as possible as there are likely other patients and travellers in need of your appointment.
COVID-19 Antibody Testing For Previous Infection or travel to China
We are pleased to be able to offer this accredited, Public Health England evaluated, laboratory IgG antibody test. The stated accuracy for our IgG test (Abbott IgG antibody test) is a Specificity of near 100% and Sensitivity of 97.5% at its peak. It has also been FDA approved. See further information here. Please note, these are not home "cartridge" style tests, but are processed in a established and regulated, London laboratory, renowned for their reliability.
This blood test looks at whether you have mounted an immune response to COVID -19, and is used to confirm previous (recent) infection. It is important to note that it is not yet known whether this will protect you from future infection, or how long this immunity will last.
This test is best taken 2-3 weeks after the onset of symptoms, when the antibody levels are highest. It requires a small blood sample, which can be obtained either by sending a finger prick test kit to your home (like the ones used by people with diabetes) or in person at the Practice. The sample can be returned either to the Laboratory in the packaging provided or dropped off at the Practice during our open hours.
The result will be available 24hrs after the sample arrives at the Laboratory and communicated to you shortly afterwards.
The options for this test are:
1. Blood sample taken at the Practice with up to 15 minutes telephone consultation for interpretation after the results are available: £200. (Available)
2. Home test kit and up to 15 minute telephone consultation before and after sending/receipt of result to discuss the procedure and interpretation of the result: £180 including postage.
3. Home test kit and emailed result: £115 including postage.
With options 1 & 2 you will also be emailed your result.
If attending the practice for a blood sample to be taken, our COVID -19 screening procedure will be followed in advance (i.e. A telephone call to triage for symptoms of active infection. If this is the case, this option will not be possible). However, if you do attend and blood is being taken for the COVID -19 test it provides an opportunity to perform other standard bloods such as cholesterol, blood sugar, kidney and liver function which may be due for other reasons or general health screening. Please ask your doctor about this before they take your blood if you are interested!
For travel to China, IgM testing is currently (Jan 2021) required. We are pleased to offer this test using a Roche analyser. Please contact us for more details if you are interested.
Any Questions?
We hope that the above information explains everything but, if you still have questions, please don't hesitate to send us a message: reception@thehovepractice.co.uk or call: 01273 733830
About the Hove Practice
We are an Established Private General Practice in Hove, East Sussex. We pride ourselves on clinical excellence and service. Our team strive to provide the best possible care and affordable access to private COVID-19 testing (RT PCR and antibody tests) both in Brighton and surrounding areas and London. We hope that you are already a regular patient with our private GPs and nurses but, if not, you are welcome to use us as a one-off service or from time-to-time as it best suits you. We are able to provide remote testing and consultations to patients anywhere in the United Kingdom.
Please take a moment to review the rest of our website whilst you are here.
We look forward to caring for you.