Returning your home-test sample
How to return your sample correctly
Use the supplied medical return envelope and take it to a PostNL service point as soon as possible. Once inside, post the envelope as letter mail yourself.
From collection to letter-mail bag
Return your sample in four steps
Always follow your test kit's collection and storage instructions. The return method below applies to test kits supplied with a medical return envelope.
- 01
Collect your sample
Follow the instructions for your test kit and store the sample as directed.
- 02
Pack the sample
Seal the sample and absorbent material in the sealbag. Add the laboratory form.
- 03
Go to a PostNL service point
Take the envelope there the same day, preferably from Monday to Friday.
- 04
Post it yourself as letter mail
Place the envelope in the letter-mail bag or indoor letterbox yourself. Do not hand it in or request track & trace.
Search by postcode
Find a PostNL service point
Enter your postcode to see nearby PostNL service points. Once inside, check where the letter-mail collection bag is located.
PostNL service-point finder
Find staffed PostNL points where outgoing shipments are accepted. Inside, ask for the letter-mail bag or indoor letterbox.
Your results will appear here
Enter your postcode to find nearby PostNL service points.
Inside the PostNL service point
This is where you post the envelope yourself
The photo shows a grey and orange indoor letterbox for letter mail. Another location may use a collection bag instead. Use the facility intended for ordinary letter mail.
- Keep hold of the medical return envelope yourself.
- Place it in the letter-mail bag or indoor letterbox.
- Do not hand it in and do not request track & trace.
Prevent delays
Help your sample reach the laboratory promptly
The medical return envelope belongs with letter mail. These steps prevent it from entering the parcel network.
Do
- Use the supplied return envelope with the correct address details.
- Seal the sample and absorbent material in the sealbag and use the cardboard or box for support.
- Place the envelope in the letter-mail bag inside a PostNL service point yourself.
- Send as soon as possible, preferably from Monday to Friday.
Don't
- Do not hand the envelope to staff or the counter; it may then enter the parcel network.
- Do not request track & trace. The envelope is medical letter post, not a parcel or letterbox parcel.
- Preferably do not use an orange street mailbox. Varying collection times may cause delays.
- Preferably do not send on Saturday or Sunday.
Practical help
Frequently asked questions about returns
Read where and when to post the medical return envelope and what to do if the shipment does not go as planned.
Where do I put the envelope at a PostNL service point?
Go inside and look for the collection bag or indoor letterbox for ordinary letter mail. Place the envelope there yourself. If you cannot find it, ask where the letter-mail facility is while keeping hold of the envelope.
Can I use an orange street letterbox?
Preferably use the letter-mail bag or indoor letterbox at a PostNL service point. Orange street letterboxes are emptied at varying times, which may cause an unnecessary delay.
When should I send my sample?
Preferably take the envelope to a PostNL service point immediately after collection and from Monday to Friday. Do not wait unnecessarily and avoid sending at the weekend because delays are more likely.
Do I need to put stamps on the return envelope?
No. Use the supplied pre-addressed return envelope with the reply-paid address. No stamps are required. Do not request track & trace either.
What if I already handed it in or requested track & trace?
The envelope may then be processed as a parcel and take longer to arrive. Do not send another sample without checking with us. Contact us if you are unsure or if the shipment has been in transit for a long time.
What happens after I post the envelope?
After receipt, the laboratory checks and analyses your sample. Turnaround time varies by test. Once your result is ready, it is sent securely via Zivver to the email address used for your order.