COVID-19 testing
There are different tests you can get to check if you have COVID-19. The test you need depends on why you're getting tested.
The 2 main tests are:
- PCR tests – mainly used for people with symptoms. These are sent to a lab to be checked and are undertaken by a specialised swabbing team. You will need to be booked in specifically for a PCR test by the 111 team, or a health care provider.
- Rapid lateral flow tests – for people who do not have symptoms, close contacts of known Covid-19 cases, and those who wish to monitor their COVID status for any reason. These give a quick result using a device and are now available to everyone in the Isle of Man.
Both tests are free of charge.
On this page:
Regular self-testing if you do not have symptoms
If you have symptoms of COVID-19
Report your Lateral Flow Device results online
Order Lateral Flow Devices (LFDs) online
Pharmacies who are distributing Lateral Flow Devices (LFDs)
Visiting the coronavirus testing facility
On Island private COVID-19 PCR Test
SARS-CoV-2 testing on the Isle of Man
Regular self-testing if you do not have symptoms
Lateral Flow Devise tests (LFD's) are now available to everyone in the Isle of Man, free of charge.
Around one in three people with COVID-19 do not have symptoms but can still infect others.
While Covid-19 remains a risk to or community, it is good practice to test yourself using a LFD around every 3 - 4 days (ideally no more than twice a week) - provided that you do not have symptoms and you feel well. Even if you’re vaccinated, there’s still a chance you can transmit COVID-19, so you should keep testing regularly.
You may also wish to use a Lateral Flow Device to check for COVID-19 to ensure you’re safe at work, have contact with vulnerable people, are planning to travel soon, or just wish to be vigilant.
Additionally, if you have been in close contact with a known Covid-19 case, it is strongly recommended that you use LFD tests every day for 7 days, and stay extra vigilant for symptoms of Covid-19.
If you test positive on a lateral flow test, you must self isolate immediately and either call 111 or go online to book a PCR test.
You can collect LFDs, free of charge, from the pharmacies listed below.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19
If you do have any signs or symptoms of Covid-19, you should not LFD test. You should stay at home immediately, go to gov.im/coronavirus or call 111 to access a PCR test instead.
Book a PCR test as soon as possible (either online or by calling 111) if you have any of these symptoms, even if mild:
- a high temperature
- a new, persistent cough
- a loss of or change to your sense of smell or taste
- new shortness of breath
You must isolate as soon as you book your test, stay at home until you get your test result - only leave your home to have the test.
If you feel unwell, but do not have classic symptoms of COVID-19, consider taking a lateral flow test. If it’s positive, stay at home and book a PCR test.
If you have COVID-19 symptoms, or provided a positive lateral flow test result you should book a test following the link below.
If you wish to book a test for a child between aged 5 – 18, or an adult, please use the link below.
If you wish to book a test for a child under 5 please phone 111
Your appointment will be emailed to you when processed:
Other reasons to get tested
Confirming a previous test result
You must book a PCR test immediately:
- you've done a rapid lateral flow test and had a positive result. Or;
- you had a PCR test and your test sample could not be read
You must stay at home until you get the result of the PCR test.
If you've been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
If you've been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 you are encouraged to do a LFD every day for 7 days, whether or not you have symptoms.
Examples of close contact include:
- face-to-face contact within one metre for any length of time – including talking to them or being coughed on
- being within one metre of each other for one minute or longer
- being within two metres of each other for more than 15 minutes in total in one day
Whilst there will be no legal restrictions on close contacts, you should consider:
- Telling your employer that you have been identified as a close contact and letting them know if you’ll be undertaking daily home testing
- Telling friends, family and colleagues who may feel anxious or vulnerable
- Thinking about who you interact with in the 10 days after being told you’re a close contact
- Taking precautions that may make you and others feel safer, such as minimising face-to-face close contact, avoiding confined and poorly ventilated areas or wearing a face covering as appropriate.
Going into hospital
You may need to get tested if you are due to have surgery or a procedure.
The hospital will advise how to arrange this with you.
Lateral Flow Device results
If you have taken an LFD test, please report your test result using the below Lateral Flow Result Notification form. This form does not collect any personal data.
Lateral Flow Result Notification form >>
If your test outcome is positive, you must isolate immediately, complete the form above and book a follow-up PCR test either online or by calling 111. If the PCR test comes back as positive, you will have to self-isolate for 10 days.
Where to get LFDs
Lateral Flow Device Tests are now available to everyone in the Isle of Man.
You can collect your lateral flow devices from participating pharmacies or order online.
Order Lateral Flow Devices (LFDs) online
Lateral flow devices (LFDs) can now be ordered online in packs of seven using the form below.
Order Lateral Flow Devices online >>
You will be asked for your full name and postal address.
Orders will normally be delivered next day if the order is received prior to 4pm. This may vary depending on the resources and supplies available at the time.
To ensure an ongoing supply of the home test kits for everyone, please order no more than one pack of seven test kits in a seven day period.
Please do not attempt to place multiple orders – to prevent this Online Services will review data to identify multiple ordering from the same household.
Individuals who are not showing symptoms of coronavirus are advised to test themselves using a lateral flow device no more than twice per week, so one kit will normally be sufficient for two adults in a household.
Anyone with symptoms should isolate immediately and contact 111 to arrange a PCR swab test. Please use this online booking request form.
Please see the Privacy Notice specific to this form.
Pharmacies who are distributing Lateral Flow Devices (LFDs)
Each pharmacy may have a different requirement for collection point/mitigations. Please wear a face covering, observe social distancing and any other mitigations implemented by individual pharmacies.
Douglas
Clear Pharmacy
13 Castle Street, Douglas, IM1 2EZ
Tel: +44 1624 673402
Fax: +44 1624 673402
Yes
Boots the Chemist
14-22 Strand Street, Douglas, IM1 2EE
Tel: +44 1624 616120
Fax: +44 1624 616130
Yes
Hemensley's Pharmacy
1 Windsor Road, Douglas, IM1 3JX
Tel: +44 1624 675162
Fax: +44 1624 675162
No
Kinrade's Pharmacy
Ballaquayle Road, Douglas, IM2 5DF
Tel: +44 1624 673912
Fax: +44 1624 673912
No
Lloyds Pharmacy
Cushag Road, Anagh Coar, Douglas
Tel: +44 1624 616399
No
Lloyds Pharmacy
Hailwood Court, Governor's Hill, Douglas, IM2 7EA
Tel: +44 1624 671042
Fax: +44 1624 610709
No
Lloyds Pharmacy
22 Woodbourne Road, Douglas, IM1 3AL
Tel: +44 1624 675900
Fax: +44 1624 664327
Yes
Lloyds Pharmacy
Shoprite, Victoria Road, Douglas, IM2 4RE
Tel: +44 1624 673268
Fax: +44 1624 673268
No
Onchan
Karson's Pharmacy
Unit 1 Corkills Garage, Main Road, Onchan, IM3 1BA
Tel: +44 1624 615150
Yes
Lloyds Pharmacy
18-21b Village Walk, Onchan, IM3 4EB
Tel: +44 1624 676410
Fax: +44 1624 670854
Yes
Laxey
Laxey Chemist
15 New Road, Laxey, IM4 7BD
Tel: +44 1624 861221
Fax: +44 1624 861221
No
Ramsey
Lloyds Pharmacy
17 Parliament Street, Ramsey, IM8 1AS
Tel: +44 1624 812167
Fax: +44 1624 812167
Yes
Lloyds Pharmacy
6 St Pauls Square, Ramsey, IM8 1LE
Tel: +44 1624 814388
Fax: +44 1624 814388
Yes
Lloyds Pharmacy
Shoprite, Bowring Road, Ramsey, IM8 2LL
Tel: +44 1624 812246
Fax: +44 1624 812246
No
Kirk Michael
Karsons Pharmacy Ltd,
T/A – The Village Pharmacy
Main Road, Kirk Michael, IM6 1AB
Tel: +44 1624 878545
Fax: +44 1624 878028
No
Peel
Clear Pharmacy
6-8 Michael Street, Peel, IM5 1HD
Tel: +44 1624 843130
Fax: +44 1624 843130
Yes - tests need to be given out from the pharmacy back door where a table will be setup.
Cowley Pharmacy Ltd
8-10 Atholl Place, Peel, IM5 1HE
Tel: +44 1624 842264
Fax: +44 1624 842264
No
Ballasalla
Costain Pharmacy
Ye Olde Bakery, Main Road, Ballasalla, IM9 2DA
Tel: +44 1624 824793
Fax: +44 1624 824793
Yes
Castletown
Castle Pharmacy Ltd
20 Malew Street, Castletown, IM9 1AD
Tel: +44 1624 822512
Fax: +44 1624 822512
Yes - provided high risk contact collects at the door - not to enter premises
Lloyds Pharmacy
The Parade, Castletown, IM9 1LG
Tel: +44 1624 823272
Fax: +44 1624 823272
Yes
Port St Mary
Clear Pharmacy
Helmshore House, Bay View Road, Port St Mary, IM9 5AG
Tel: +44 1624 832128
Fax: +44 1624 832128
Yes - as long as public are masked
Port Erin
Lloyds Pharmacy
Church Road, Port Erin, IM9 6AR
Tel: +44 1624 833101
Fax: +44 1624 833101
Yes
Clear Pharmacy
Darnills Complex, Station Road, Port Erin, IM9 6AB
Tel: +44 1624 832139
Fax: +44 1624 832139
No
Visiting the coronavirus testing facility
Testing facility
The testing will take place at The Grandstand, Glencrutchery Road, Douglas.
It is open 7 days a week. Slots are allocated in order of availability.
If you have any problems attending your test appointment contact COVID 111.
This is a drive-through testing service and you must attend by car or by taxi.
Directions to Test Centre:
- Drive along Glencrutchery Road, Turn down towards police Headquarters
- Turn right follow the Testing signage
- Continue and follow signs into car park testing station area
For families and groups who require testing from the same vehicle, wait for further instructions. Do not proceed to the main testing area where a traffic light system is on display.
On arrival
- All passengers must wear a face covering at all times
- Travel to the car park waiting area and wait until called
- If the area is busy, wait until you view a green light. Once displayed, drive through and
- switch off your engine
- DO NOT get out of your vehicle
- Wind your window down
- Wait to receive further directions from a member of staff
The test will be performed by a health professional. They will be wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE). You will be asked for your name and date of birth.
The tester will then take a swab first from your throat (orothanphaygeal) and then from your nose (nasalpharyngeal).
This process may be a bit uncomfortable, but it will be completed as quickly as possible to alleviate any distress.
You may want to bring a drink of water with you for after the testing.
Receiving your test results
You should receive your results by text message or email within 24 hours.
Until you receive your test results DO NOT stop isolating because you are feeling better.
Please do not call 111 for your test results. They will be sent by email/text as soon as possible, but times may vary due to test volumes.
If you test negative for COVID-19, you will be advised by 111 that you may end self-isolation. If you are still required to complete a mandatory period of self-isolation by law under a specific direction notice (e.g. because you have travelled to any Amber countries on the travel list) even if you have tested negative you MUST remain in self-isolation for the full period.
If you test positive for COVID-19 you will receive:
- advice from clinicians at 111, including details of your self-isolation period
- You will be issued with a Direction Notice by the Cabinet Office – Public Health 111/Contact Tracing Service (on behalf of the Manx Care) which requires you to undertake mandatory self-isolation, as specified by 111, from the on-set of your symptoms.
Your contact details will be passed onto the Public Health Contact Tracing Service so any contacts with other persons can be followed up and they too may be issued with a mandatory direction notice and instruction to self-isolate for a specified period.
Please refer to our Privacy Notice on how the Cabinet Office will use your personal data for these purposes.
Costs and testing criteria
LFDs are free of charge to everybody.
PCR tests are free of charge for:
- those who have symptoms
- contacts of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus
- patients required to have a test as part of pre-assessment screening, e.g. – for a hospital procedure
- those required to take a test after a patient transfer (speak to patient transfers for advice first)
- Eligible students and their escort (where the student is a child or requires parental support)
- travellers arriving as essential workers (note that you will need employer approval before you undergo testing)
- travellers receiving their day 6 test
All other travellers will be charged £30 which should be booked within 48 hours of arriving on the Isle of Man.
Private testing is also offered. See On-island private PCR tests for further advice.
For further guidance see:
On Island private COVID-19 PCR Test
The Department of Health and Social Care are able to provide a private COVID-19 PCR test chargeable at £50.00 per person per test.
SARS-CoV-2 testing on the Isle of Man
The main platform used on the IOM is a real time PCR with a sensitivity of 98.9% and specificity of 99.1% using the QuantuMDx RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 Nucleic Acid Detection Test. More details can be found through the company’s website and the Public Health England Technical Validation Report.
This offers three target loci, (S gene, N gene and ORF1 region) which gives 100% coverage of all known SARS-CoV-2 lineages. It also incorporates a human control which identifies nearly all false negatives (due mainly to inadequate swabbing). We have calculated these from previous testing as less than 0.2% of tests.
All positive tests are re-run on an alternative platform with different targets which will identify any false positives.
It is important to have a back-up system and we are using the Hologic Aptima (Panther System) TMA (Transcription Mediated Amplification) SARS-CoV-2 Assay.
This is used worldwide in many testing centres and although TMA is more sensitive than RT-PCR it does not include a human control. However as we are seeing less than 0.2% failure rate on our swabbing, this is not considered a significant issue. Sensitivity is close to 100% and specificity 98.2%. It targets two different regions of the ORF1ab gene in the same reaction.
Rapid platforms are used for confirmatory testing and clinically urgent cases:
- Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 assay(98% sensitivity, 100% specificity), which targets the N2 and E genes, and;
- Biofire FilmArray Respiratory (RP) 2.1 panel(Close to 100% sensitivity and specificity), targets the S and M genes.
Although these are ‘rapid’ tests, the sensitivity / specificity of these are excellent, although they are more expensive and do not lend themselves to high throughput testing.
Additionally, both rapid tests allow simultaneous identification of other respiratory pathogens that are commonly circulating in order to inform clinicians of the treatment options available to our patients.
Other methods and are continuously evaluated in order to provide a comprehensive and validated testing service for the people of the Isle of Man.