One of the tests has been listed for a huge £100 ahead of NYE celebrations, as demand has increased and the PM urged people to take a coronavirus test ahead before heading out on December 31

As pharmacies across the country run out of Covid-19 lateral flow tests, a number of people have taken to selling the testing kits at a premium online with an auction house even flogging job lots.

One of the tests has been listed for a huge £100 ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations, as demand has increased and Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged people to take a coronavirus test ahead before heading out to socialise.

The UK Health Security Agency has announced eight million kits will be made available to pharmacies – but many appear to be finding their way online to be sold for profit.

Yesterday, the Manchester Evening News found the usually free testing kits on 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 by the MEN about the auctions but did not provide a comment at the time of publication. They couldn’t be reached by phone when The Mirror contacted and have been contacted via email.

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 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.”