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Twelve-minute tests available in Boots 'within a fortnight'

Boots to stock testing kits which can provide results within 12 minutes - Bloomberg
Boots to stock testing kits which can provide results within 12 minutes - Bloomberg
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter

Coronavirus testing kits which can provide results within 12 minutes will be available in Boots within a fortnight, the retailer said on Sunday night.

The high-speed Covid test, which has shown to be 97 per cent accurate in trials, will cost £120 and is aimed at those who are not exhibiting symptoms but want some peace of mind.

Those who suspect they have contracted the virus are still advised to book an appointment at an NHS testing centre.

Boots has bought 100 devices from US diagnostics firm Lumira which are capable of returning a result on swabs almost instantaneously, according to the Daily Mail. They will be rolled out to stores in the coming weeks.

Sebastian James, chief executive of Boots, said the company does not want to "make a profit out of it".

He explained: "We are just covering our costs as there is a big up-front outlay for all the kit.

"My thinking is that if the volume is large we will be able to bring the price down. I'm hoping lots of people will want to do it and if they do, then we can make the price more accessible. We believe we are the cheapest private test.

"We think it is pretty good value compared to others on the high street, which range from £270 at the very expensive end to about £150 in online clinics."