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

[serfty]

Anyone know if the $50 rapid antigen test at SYD airport by Histopath is accepted for US travel? CDC says Rapid tests OK but don't want to take any chances.. anyone have any experience?

It should be acceptable - I do note that Histopath are indicating a PCR test is required but the CDC website indicates otherwise:

COVID-19 and Travel

CDC travel recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

www.cdc.gov

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/coronavirus/international-travel/united-states-flights.html?int_cam=au%3Ainternational-travel%3Aheading-and-links%3Asee-travel-requirements-for-flights-between-australia-and-%3Aen%3Ann

I've been reading through the Qantas website (I'm going to LAX in late Dec) and it doesn't seem that they specifically require a PCR test to fly. All they require is for one to be fully vaccinated. Therefore, I'm assuming that given the US allows a rapid test, then it should be accepted, at least on QF flights. I would assume that US flagged airlines would be the same.

This would seem to be correct. I am closely monitoring this as I have US bookings for January.

 

[cmon0005]

Has anyone used the histopath at the airport express RT-PCR for a domestic flight?
Their application form seems to be catered to international flights?

 

[SeaWolf]

Looks like Histopath has had a price drop. It's now $79 for the Express PCR test at the airport, though the time to get the result is now listed as 1.5 hours. The cost of the same-day test has also dropped to $79. Oddly though the cost of a rapid antigen test has gone up to $59.

Airport | Histopath Diagnostic Specialists

Conveniently located at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane International Airports, our highly skilled team and cutting-edge technology means we can offer you your COVID results in under 90 minutes.

www.histopath.com.au

 

[MelMel]

Looks like Histopath has had a price drop. It's now $79 for the Express PCR test at the airport, though the time to get the result is now listed as 1.5 hours. The cost of the same-day test has also dropped to $79. Oddly though the cost of a rapid antigen test has gone up to $59.

Airport | Histopath Diagnostic Specialists

Conveniently located at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane International Airports, our highly skilled team and cutting-edge technology means we can offer you your COVID results in under 90 minutes.

www.histopath.com.au

Anticipating increased acceptance of RAT over PCR?

 

[Mattg]

Looks like Histopath has had a price drop. It's now $79 for the Express PCR test at the airport, though the time to get the result is now listed as 1.5 hours. The cost of the same-day test has also dropped to $79. Oddly though the cost of a rapid antigen test has gone up to $59.

Airport | Histopath Diagnostic Specialists

Conveniently located at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane International Airports, our highly skilled team and cutting-edge technology means we can offer you your COVID results in under 90 minutes.

www.histopath.com.au

Good news and makes perfect sense. They probably figure they can make more money overall by increasing scale, which the increased volume of international travel and lower prices will certainly help with.

 

[Mattg]

I'm not sure if this has already been mentioned, but looks like Histopath Pathology now also has a location at BNE international airport and is offering express PCR tests there for the same price as SYD/MEL.

Airport | Histopath Diagnostic Specialists

Conveniently located at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane International Airports, our highly skilled team and cutting-edge technology means we can offer you your COVID results in under 90 minutes.

www.histopath.com.au

 

[Lynda2475]

Yep looks cheaper to get an uber to SYD international pay $79 for express PCR and then uber across to the DOM terminal to fly interstate, than it is to get a same day or next day PCR at any of the other providers in Sydney who want to charge $300 for express processing.

 

[serfty]

Oddly though the cost of a rapid antigen test has gone up to $59.

Is the RAT ok for travel to the USA?

 

[serfty]

Is the RAT ok for travel to the USA?

Seems yes ...

Where to Get a Pre-Flight COVID-19 Test in Australia

If you're travelling overseas over the coming months, your destination country may require you to get a COVID-19 test before departure. Some Australian

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Thibault]

I'm not sure if this has already been mentioned, but looks like Histopath Pathology now also has a location at BNE international airport and is offering express PCR tests there for the same price as SYD/MEL.

Airport | Histopath Diagnostic Specialists

Conveniently located at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane International Airports, our highly skilled team and cutting-edge technology means we can offer you your COVID results in under 90 minutes.

www.histopath.com.au

I believe this is the cheapest across Brisbane as well.
I will be going to the INTL terminal to get it and then check in with VA to SYD prior to my flight to AUH with EY in two weeks.
Thank you for sharing.

 

[JessicaTam]

[mod hat]
Posts discussing travel between terminals at SYD have been deleted.
[/mod]

 

[arbo]

I'm not sure if this has already been mentioned, but looks like Histopath Pathology now also has a location at BNE international airport and is offering express PCR tests there for the same price as SYD/MEL.

Airport | Histopath Diagnostic Specialists

Conveniently located at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane International Airports, our highly skilled team and cutting-edge technology means we can offer you your COVID results in under 90 minutes.

www.histopath.com.au

FYI you can get the Histopath travel test done at their community locations across Sydney in addition to their airport clinic. I completed the paperwork online yesterday (just $79) and had the test at their Heathcote drive through at 7:30 this morning and received the certificate via email before 13:30 today. A pretty quick turn around without the hassle of going to the airport early.

 

[serfty]

FYI you can get the Histopath travel test done at their community locations across Sydney in addition to their airport clinic.

I was in MEL today - I am planning to get a test in January so I scouted the Histopath. (It's where the Chemist in the T3 check in hall used to be).

There was a queue outside the business of about 10 people with a sign indicating Max 12 inside.

The only international flights were 2 to SIN (QF, SQ) both departing more than 3 hours later.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Yep looks cheaper to get an uber to SYD international pay $79 for express PCR and then uber across to the DOM terminal to fly interstate, than it is to get a same day or next day PCR at any of the other providers in Sydney

Even cheaper getting the airtrain from international to domestic - only adds $5 to the test cost.

I got a test at SYD international couple of days ago and found the drive through in the ground level carpark (behind the multi storey carparks) accepts walkups and medicare cards if you don’t need an express test. Handy for your day 1 test if arriving off an international flight. It closes at 8 pm.

Near the domestic terminal and the airport hotels nearby there are a couple of others shown on NSW Health map, should take medicare and probably several hours for a result.

cheers skip

 

[Batterytraveller]

I’m now booked to go to Singapore for Australia Day week.

Itinerary is a 0800 up to Sydney followed by 1120 on to Singapore.

Should I do histopath before the domestic leg? will they let me check in for the ininerary if my results come in the air to Sydney?

Or should I not chance it and get the test done in town the day before? (At much higher cost). Given it’s two tests it’s probably cheaper to drive out to the airport to get them done the day before than do in town, but much less convenient.

 

[arbo]

I’m now booked to go to Singapore for Australia Day week.

Itinerary is a 0800 up to Sydney followed by 1120 on to Singapore.

Should I do histopath before the domestic leg? will they let me check in for the ininerary if my results come in the air to Sydney?

Or should I not chance it and get the test done in town the day before? (At much higher cost). Given it’s two tests it’s probably cheaper to drive out to the airport to get them done the day before than do in town, but much less convenient.

Remember it is 72 hours before leaving Australia so you should be able to do a test in Melbourne before you leave. I don't think we need a test at this stage to fly between Melbourne and Sydney? I could be wrong on that one though.

Are you checking in Melbourne all the way to Singapore or is the domestic leg a separate booking and ticket?

 

[PineappleSkip]

Singapore require a test 48 hours before starting your travel to there, not 72, provided any transits are less than 24 hours

Warning:​

Passengers entering Singapore must have a negative COVID-19 test taken at most 2 days before the day of departure from the first embarkation point.

Australia requires a test not more than 72 hours before your flight back to Australia, or first flight if you are transiting.

I would get a test in MEL two days before your day of departure. That gives plenty of time to get the results back and allow for any unusual delay. In my experience I get these travel tests back less than 12 hours after taken but it varies with public health demands, didtance of test centre from lab, etc.

TIMATIC is still your best source of information

Cheers skip

 

[serfty]

I’m now booked to go to Singapore for Australia Day week.

Itinerary is a 0800 up to Sydney followed by 1120 on to Singapore.

Should I do histopath before the domestic leg? will they let me check in for the ininerary if my results come in the air to Sydney?

Or should I not chance it and get the test done in town the day before? (At much higher cost). Given it’s two tests it’s probably cheaper to drive out to the airport to get them done the day before than do in town, but much less convenient.

@Batterytraveller , I believe you will need to have the test results before you check in for your entire itinerary, This means before 7am for your 8am flight.

There was a recent post confirming this - I am trying to find it.

 

[PineappleSkip]

@Batterytraveller , I believe you will need to have the test results before you check in for your entire itinerary, This means before 7am for your 8am flight.

There was a recent post confirming this - I am trying to find it.

Here's a recent post - Every international flight I've been on I've needed the COVID test result at first check in on the itinerary. It is the thing must commonly asked for.

I travelled BNE-SYD-HKG-etc in October and was able to check in BNE-SYD (and no further) without the test, got the express test in SYD and rechecked for HKG etc the next day.

In your case you are cutting it very fine for post COVID travel (~9.30-11.20) and it wouldn't be practicable to do the 90 minute test in SYD. You must have the result before checkin closes.

Cheers skip

 

[Batterytraveller]

Thanks, good info.

Unless anyone knows of a cheaper in town location its a choice between an additional trip to the airport to see histopath the day before or an expensive test in town.