A coronavirus test which can provide results in 12 minutes will be available in Boots within a fortnight, the pharmacy has said.

The nasal swab test will initially cost £120 and is aimed at those who do not believe they have Covid-19 and have symptoms – but want some “peace of mind”. It will be available in “selected stores”.

The LumiraDx device has been approved by authorities in Europe and the US and has shown to be 97 percent accurate in trials.

The £120 cost of the test could also be lowered if demand grows, according to Boots chief executive Sebastian James, who said the company does not want to “make a profit out of it”.

“We are just covering our costs as there is a big up-front outlay for all the kit,” he said.

“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.”

He added that it was the first step toward mass testing on high streets and a way to allow Britons to get on with their lives again.

To obtain a test, patients can fill out a registration form and book an appointment through the Boots online portal.

Anyone who suspects they may have Covid-19 is still being advised to visit an NHS testing station.

Boots has also launched a 48-hour testing service, which is currently available in 10 stores across London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow, with plans to extend the programme to more than 50 outlets across the nation.

The service is available as a private pre-flight test for customers who require one before travelling abroad, or as “a solution for those who would prefer peace of mind before seeing friends and family”.