Where to get a pre-flight COVID-19 test?

[henrus]

Is this conformed?

Already in place.

 

[Genji88]

Looking at the top 10 countries Australians travel to pre covid...

1. New Zealand (will accept supervised RAT's)
2. Indonesia - specfically Bali (currently requires a stupid number of PCR's)
3. Thailand (no pre departure tests - PCR on arrival)
4. The Philippines (accepts supervised RAT's)
5. Japan (still closed)
6. USA (accepts supervised RAT's)
7. Singapore (accepts supervised RAT's)
8. Fiji (accepts supervised RAT's)
9. India (no pre departure tests - random testing on arrival)
10. The UK (no testing)

5 of 10 allow for supervised RAT's
Only 1 requires a pre departure PCR

Thailand requires an RT-PCR test no more than 72 hours of Arrival in order to qualify for the Thailand Pass, as well as one upon Arrival into Thailand.

 

[henrus]

Thailand requires an RT-PCR test no more than 72 hours of Arrival in order to qualify for the Thailand Pass, as well as one upon Arrival into Thailand.

Ok I was jumping the gun a bit but from Friday this week it will be gone:

Thailand drops pre-departure test requirement for visitors

Thailand said on Friday it will scrap a mandatory pre-departure coronavirus test for visitors starting next month but will still require entry registrations in advance and an on-arrival test.

www.reuters.com

 

[aaa99]

After a calling around a few in Melbourne, Chemist Warehouse in Box Hill south does the supervised RAT tests for $30. They will use their own kit, but that is included in the price.

 

[Tiki]

There was an ad specifically for travel testing incl supervised RAT and certificate at Chemist Warehouse last night on Ch9 so they should all hopefully be coming on board.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Is this conformed?

Look here-->Pre-departure tests to enter New Zealand

If you had a RAT or LAMP:

• either the name of the health professional that supervised the test, including either a letterhead or stamp confirming the supervisor’s name, occupation and employer
• or the name of the pharmac_, laboratory, healthcare entity, telehealth service, community-based or airport-based testing station that supervised the test.

Also lists "telehealth"

 

[Scr77]

On departure from AU, Histopath seems to be a simple option. The USA Attestation is meant to be completed after receiving your negative result. Qantas has an online form for completing this. Has anyone been requested their printed attestation on arrive in USA?

 

[Berlin]

TRANSIT
If transiting, you may do so if you have a valid outward ticket within 72 hours of arrival, are fully vaccinated, and have a negative COVID-19 test, which may be a PCR or rapid antigen test, that is required for entry into the country of your final destination.
Travellers transiting through Fiji for 10 hours or longer are subject to stay/quarantine until their connecting flight at a CFC hotel if they have originally departed from a Travel Partner Country or at a Fiji Managed Quarantine Facility if they have originally departed from a Non-Travel Partner Country, respectively.

I'll be transiting through Nadi back to Australia just after the Aussie change to not needing a test result anymore for entering the country (we arrive back 19th April). Given I'm coming from LAX and looking at the crazily inflated prices for pre-departure Covid tests over there, I'd really rather not waste my money if I can avoid it.

The big question, and hopefully someone here knows the answer, is whether I need a negative test result for my transfer in Nadi. Air Fiji, useless as their website is, doesn't seem to list it as a requirement. All fijian website like this one here https://www.mcttt.gov.fj/home/traveltofiji/international-travel/ are very vague in their wording (if they mention sole transit at all). From what I can gather, you only need a negative test result if you actually ENTER the country which seems not to be necessary if transiting for less than 10 hours.

My connection time is 3 hours so I should be good without an annoying overpriced test or am I missing something? Hoping someone knows the answer or knows somewhere that states this clearly, thanks a lot in advance!

 

[henrus]

is whether I need a negative test result for my transfer in Nadi

Yes, Number 3 on Timatic:

IATA - International Travel Document News

www.iatatravelcentre.com

Passengers entering of transit through Fiji ... from USA ... must have negative PCR either 2 days before of negative RAT 24 hours before.

 

[Berlin]

Passengers entering of transit through Fiji ... from USA ... must have negative PCR either 2 days before of negative RAT 24 hours before.

Thanks a lot for the info! Not what I was hoping to hear but better to find out now than upon check in at LAX. Thank you

 

[henrus]

Thanks a lot for the info! Not what I was hoping to hear but better to find out now than upon check in at LAX. Thank you

I'm under the impression from this page that a supervised test taken online would be suitable.

https://www.fiji.travel/covid-19/travelling-to-fiji

Best to double check this but might save the US$80 fee for a RAT at LAX.

 

[ksthommo]

Chemist Warehouse ad is now up and running.

Supervised COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test Service available at Chemist Warehouse

 

[Virgin Bart]

Chemist Warehouse ad is now up and running.

Supervised COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test Service available at Chemist Warehouse

Thanks. Does anyone happen to have a [redacted] certificate as provided by Chemist Warehouse?

 

[aaa99]

Doing one tomorrow . Will share after i get the result.

 

[Berlin]

Doing one tomorrow . Will share after i get the result.

Please do- I need to do one on Thursday so your info will come timely!

 

[larrymull]

Doing one tomorrow . Will share after i get the result.

Yes I'd be interested in seeing it too.

 

[Berlin]

Chemist Warehouse ad is now up and running.

Supervised COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test Service available at Chemist Warehouse

Well, it might be on radio. Just called around 3 different branches close by (inner East/ South Sydney area) and none of them could help. The experience was similarly painful to talking to Qantas' call centre which doesn't surprise me given how Chemist Warehouse presents itself as a "cheap and nasty" brand on purpose.

Tbh- these branches would have been more convenient than the airport the day later. Given these issues I will just pay a bit more and do it at Mascot on the morning of our flight. Chemist Warehouse is just too dodgy to risk it, for my liking at least.

 

[whughes3]

Well, it might be on radio. Just called around 3 different branches close by (inner East/ South Sydney area) and none of them could help. The experience was similarly painful to talking to Qantas' call centre which doesn't surprise me given how Chemist Warehouse presents itself as a "cheap and nasty" brand on purpose.

Tbh- these branches would have been more convenient than the airport the day later. Given these issues I will just pay a bit more and do it at Mascot on the morning of our flight. Chemist Warehouse is just too dodgy to risk it, for my liking at least.

Same experience with me...tried 5 different CW outlets in my vicinity, none of them were offering these tests. Have signed up to do it at the airport...

 

[Berlin]

Same experience with me...tried 5 different CW outlets in my vicinity, none of them were offering these tests. Have signed up to do it at the airport...

And you know- if an organisation is that disorganised that they pay bucketloads of money for radio and TV ads but then can't educate their dirt cheap underpaid "pharmacists" to know about it? How trustworthy is their "certificate" then I wonder.

Mascot/ Sydney airport is actually closer to me than any other Chemist Warehouse would be and the cost difference, well, it pales in comparison to the total cost of my holiday anyway. Not worth the risk for a few bucks saved!

 

[zzap]

I’ve had great experience with Histopath at MEL airport for PCR tests. I’ve used them three times since December. I always just go for a PCR cos everywhere that is okay with a supervised RAT is also ok with a PCR and saves any headaches.

Recently travelled to Thailand in mid-March, pre-registered and paid online with Histopath. $79. Arrived at the airport, did the PCR, got my results via SMS in 26 minutes. They send a PDF via email and will also print the results out for you free of charge.

Their site says they also do rapid antigen / lateral flow tests for $59 with results in 30 minutes but have not tried this.