Lateral flow test shortage: Which London pharmacies have rapid antigen tests and how to order

Since the emergence of the new Omicron variant, there has been a massive effort to ramp up everyone getting their booster and to get tested.

According to officials, the new variant accounts for 20% of all Covid cases in the UK, and it appears to be more transmissible than the previous mutations.

The government announced that doubled-vaccinated Brits would not have to isolate if a member of their household tested positive, provided they took daily lateral-flow tests.

Covid passes for big events are also coming in on Wednesday, where people will need to show evidence of being fully vaccinated or a negative lateral-flow test.

However on Monday, the government’s home-delivery service for lateral-flow tests ran out of supplies.

As of Tuesday, it still appears there are no rapid antigen tests to order online, however pharmacies still have them.

Due to the shortage, some London pharmacies are struggling to get lateral flow home testing kits in stock. Luckily, some do.

LondonWorld spoke to 15 pharmacies in London to see if they had lateral flow tests available, and when they could be expecting a new delivery of them to come in.

Do pharmacies in west London have lateral-flow tests?

West London Pharmacy 154 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, W4 1PR - 020 8894 1702

The pharmacy currently does not have any LFTs in stock, however, it could be getting a delivery tomorrow morning, so get down there early, to ensure you pick up some.

Express Pharmacy 17 Church Road, W3 8PU, 020 8123 0703

It has a very “healthy amount” left.

Do pharmacies in central London have lateral-flow tests?

Devonshire Pharmacy 215 Edgeware Road, W2 1ES, 020 7402 6134

It has some, but in order to collect you must provide your collection code.

It says it’s one of very few pharmacies in Edgeware Road that currently has LFTs in stock, and by 10am it had already had around 20 people go in to get LFTs.

Holborn Pharmacy 88 Southampton Row, WC1B 4BB, 020 7405 2825

It does have some lateral-flow tests in stock, but says its problem is staff have no idea when they will receive a new batch.

Mayfair Pharmacy 33 Curzon Road, W1J 7TR, 020 7629 7999

It has many lateral-flow tests in stock, but only the private ones which need to be paid for.

Madesil Pharmacy 20 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4PB, 020 7935 3078

A big surge unfortunately means this pharmacy is without lateral-flow tests, but it has ordered some and it’s now up to the supplier now to get them to Madesil.

NVS Pharmacy 46 Baker Street, W1U 7BR, 020 7486 0580

It currently does not have any lateral-flow tests.

Shiv Pharmacy 70 Great Titchfield Street, London, W1W 7QN, 020 7580 2392

It has a very limited supply of lateral-flow tests left.

Grafton Pharmacy 132 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 5AZ, 020 7383 4233

It currently does not have any, but expect deliveries almost every morning.

Do pharmacies in South London have lateral-flow tests?

City Pharmacy 39-41 Borough High Street, SE1 1LZ, 020 7407 2061

When LondonWorld called at around 10.15am, it was about to run out and had fewer than 10 boxes, but are expecting a new delivery today (December 14) at around midday.

Obson Pharmacy 9 Upper Ground, SE1 9LP, 020 7633 0552

It does not have any at the moment, but staff are in the process of ordering some more.

Do pharmacies in north London have lateral-flow tests?

Links Pharmacy 129 E End road, N2 0SZ, 020 8883 0442

Yes it has some lateral-flow tests, and even better staff are expecting a delivery today, around 1pm.

Juds Pharmacy 73 Pitfield Street, N1 6BT, 020 7253 2944

It is are all out of lateral-flow tests.

Do pharmacies in east London have lateral-flow tests?

Apex Pharmacy 199 Old Street, EC1V 9NP, 020 7253 2586

It has run out, but staff are expecting a new delivery today but they’re not certain it will arrive.

UniPharm Pharmacies 253 Kingsland Road, E2 8AN, 020 7613 4176

Currently out of stock due to a surge, but are expecting a new delivery of lateral-flow tests.

*Please note, all information accurate as of Tuesday, December 14, 2021*