General COVID testing discussion

[Quickstatus]

we didn't go down the cough swab

 

[RedSMS]

Hi Guys,

I'm heading to QLD from VIC on Monday, Jan 3, so I have to take a PCR test any time between 09:35 Friday 30th Jan and 09:35 Monday, Jan 3 (Although I don't think I'll be doing it at Brisbane airport ).

I have heard multiple news reports that the wait times for PCR testing in Melbourne and Sydney are exorbitantly long.

That leads me to my question, where can I find a list of places where I can get a PCR test in Melbourne prior to my trip?

Thanks so much!

 

[serfty]

I had a PCR test on Sunday afternoon. I live in SE, beach area near Frankston.

By Noon Frankston Hospital was full (both for walk ins and drive up) but I was able to drive in to a 4Cyte place in Overton Road - took all of 25 minutes.

 

[RedSMS]

Ah great. Thanks for that.

I also made the same post on Facebook, and one of my friends posted a helpful article from the Herald Sun in response. For those who don't have access, I will post it below.

Furthermore, I also visited the Victorian govt's covid testing website where it tells you testing locations based on your postcode and wait times (for some). You can even Pre-Register your details and receive a Unique Reference Number (Which purportedly speeds up the process). Took me 2 mins to do.

Covid 19 testing locations in Victoria

From the Herald Sun/Whitehorse Leader:

Covid test: Where to go to avoid queues​

Testing queues and wait times across Melbourne have blown out in the race to Christmas. Here’s where you can get tested quickly.

Liam Beatty and Blair Corless

less than 2 min read
December 22, 2021 - 12:26PM
Whitehorse Leader

As Covid cases continue to grow in Melbourne, many people are being forced to wait hours in queues to get tested. But there are testing sites where you won’t get stuck waiting, so you can get your results in time for Christmas.
Moonee Valley Racecourse drive through testing — One hour

Melbourne Showgrounds drive through — No waiting time

Victoria University Maidstone drive through — Half an hour

4Cyte Pathology Sunshine drive through — One hour

IPC Health Sunshine drive through — temporarily closed

IPC Health Deer Park drive through — One hour

Victoria University St Albans Campus drive through — One hour

Wootten Road Reserve Drive Through Tarneit — Two and a half hours

IPC Health Wyndham Vale drive through — One hour

IPC Health Victoria University in Werribee East — 90 minutes

Western Health drive through in Melton — One hour

Melton Football Club drive through — 15 minutes

Wantirna Health — 90 minutes

EACH Lilydale — One hour

Wyuna Walk Mooroolbark — Two hours

Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital — One hour

Darebin Arts Centre — 90 minutes

4Cyte Pathology Harry Atkinson Centre Coburg North — 15 minutes

Glenroy Hall — 15 minutes

Brighton Golf Club — Two hours

Central Bayside Community Health Services Cheltenham — 30 minutes

Sandringham Hospital — Two hours

Peninsula Testing Hub Frankston — No waiting time

Baxter Community Hall — 15 minutes

St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne Fever Clinic — Three hours

4Cyte Pathology Cranbourne — Three hours

Casey Fields — No wait time

Peninsula Health Frankston Hospital — 30 minutes

Monash University, Clayton — No wait time

Aughti Walk, Albert Park — One hour

 

[Bundy Bear]

Had a staff member at our office get a COVID test after a friend of his was sick, and it was negative, his wife tested negative and wasn't better after 3 days and then got a positive test, work colleague is off to get a PCR test again today.

Talking to our parent company one person tested positive and then the other 3 in the office got tested, 1 is sick but was considered negative.
So I wonder how many people test negative but who maybe positive at some time during their illness.

Another staff member in our office is away sick this morning woke up with a sore throat and is going to get tested today.

I am waiting to see if I can catch something, but I am not sure if I really want to spend 4 hours waiting to get a PCR test especially if I am unwell.

 

[asterix]

Had a staff member at our office get a COVID test after a friend of his was sick, and it was negative, his wife tested negative and wasn't better after 3 days and then got a positive test, work colleague is off to get a PCR test again today.

Talking to our parent company one person tested positive and then the other 3 in the office got tested, 1 is sick but was considered negative.
So I wonder how many people test negative but who maybe positive at some time during their illness.

Another staff member in our office is away sick this morning woke up with a sore throat and is going to get tested today.

I am waiting to see if I can catch something, but I am not sure if I really want to spend 4 hours waiting to get a PCR test especially if I am unwell.

I've been fortunate that I've been working from home since the end of February 2020. My wife works and in health though and we've got two kids who'll be going back to high school in a few weeks, so not out of the woods yet.