Lateral flow tests are being sold for profit online as pharmacies across the country run out of the Covid-19 testing kits.
One seller listed a box of the tests for a whopping £100 ahead of tomorrow's Hogmanay celebrations, according to Manchester Evening News.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged revellers to test for the virus before heading out on New Year's Eve following a rise in omicron cases, sending demand for lateral flow tests soaring.
The UK Health Security Agency has stated that eight million kits are set to be made available from pharmacies, however current stocking issues have led to some being sold at premium prices online.
The usually free testing kits were found for sale on Facebook, eBay and even an online auction house based in Stockport.
Simon Charles Auctioneers and Valuers had four job lots of testing kits up for auction on its website on Thursday morning.
Each lot contained either 15 or 20 kits and had each received bids of around £5 as of 2pm this afternoon.
Simon Charles Auctioneers were approached about the auctions but did not provide a comment at the time of publication.
Meanwhile, one person on Facebook was selling lateral flow tests for £5 each.
Posting on the Didsbury M20 group, the person wrote: “12 lateral flow tests for sale. £5 per box but will do deal for more than 1.”
In response to the listing, one person posted: “You should be giving these away for free to people that need them not hoarding them for your own selfish gain!”
Another wrote: “How shameful of you. There is a shortage of these tests”.
When someone asked if the listing was a joke, the seller replied: “There’s no joke they’re in short supply right now so if you need them a fiver isn’t that much”.
An image of one ‘unused and sealed’ box of lateral flow tests was shared on social media, showing it on offer for £100 on Wednesday (December 29) before it was removed.
Another box of rapid antigen tests was also reportedly on sale for £9.99, which was also promptly removed from the site.
eBay said COVID-19 tests were banned for sale on its platform and there were ‘currently no lateral flow tests available for purchase’ on the site.
An eBay spokesperson said: “COVID-19 tests are banned for sale on eBay.
“We condemn anyone attempting to re-sell COVID tests provided by the NHS.
“We have filters in place to block these tests from making it onto the platform, and our policy team also regularly monitors for these items and any that do make it on site are immediately removed.”
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