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

[henrus]

How long is the queue

When I was there on boxing day it stretched the length of the bridge but it cleared within an hour.

 

[jaseb]

This is what we've booked and paid for also - we originally planned on taking the test on the 30th, 72 hours before flying on the 2nd - however it appears we now need to take a test on the 31st at the earliest ("2 calendar days before departure") and with the public holiday on the 1st, I'm not convinced we'll get a result in time.

edit: Phoned Fiji Airways, they have not been advised of the change to testing requirements ("test no earlier than 2 calendar days prior to departure") and are still advising passengers to test 72 hours prior to departure. Public holiday in Fiji today so Fiji Airways 'management' weren't available to communicate any potential changes to the call centre. They recommended calling back tomorrow for clarification

So we lined up in a QML testing queue this morning on the Gold Coast from 6am til 9am (clinic opened at 0730am) only to be told that they weren't taking any international tests due to current testing demand and we'd have to drive to Brisbane to try our luck there - given we'd have to drive ~2hrs, line up in queue, hope to get tested before they packed up for the day and then hope to receive a result within ~40 hours I don't think it's worth it. We're now hoping the testing clinic at BNE airport on the day of our flight (opening at 0800AM) will get us a result before our check in closes (~0950AM)

 

[squid]

I'm departing SYD for an international flight on Monday, can I get the test done on Sunday at the airport clinic?

The guidance says "passengers departing in the next 24 hours", so I assume yes?

Want to avoid getting the test done on the same day as departure as much as possible.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

FWIW my US friend has opted for COVID-19 Test for Travel | Accredited Testing day before flt

FWIW - our departing US guest was booked into above this morn - testing commenced at 07:00 and she arrived at Dorevitch Pathology in Heidelberg at 07:30 - waited in car til test completed at 08:15 - was advised results should come through within a few hours

 

[N860CR]

Not that it’s for departures… but as a reference point I got tested at Sydney arrivals at about 8pm last night. Results woke me up at 6:15am

 

[justinbrett]

FWIW - our departing US guest was booked into above this morn - testing commenced at 07:00 and she arrived at Dorevitch Pathology in Heidelberg at 07:30 - waited in car til test completed at 08:15 - was advised results should come through within a few hours

The Brisbane location has very long queues and featured in the local news yesterday. I would definitely not recommend it for Brisbane - go to the airport and use Histopath.

 

[justinbrett]

So we lined up in a QML testing queue this morning on the Gold Coast from 6am til 9am (clinic opened at 0730am) only to be told that they weren't taking any international tests due to current testing demand and we'd have to drive to Brisbane to try our luck there - given we'd have to drive ~2hrs, line up in queue, hope to get tested before they packed up for the day and then hope to receive a result within ~40 hours I don't think it's worth it. We're now hoping the testing clinic at BNE airport on the day of our flight (opening at 0800AM) will get us a result before our check in closes (~0950AM)

Why don’t you use Histopath at the airport today? They are open until 11pm.

 

[jaseb]

Why don’t you use Histopath at the airport today? They are open until 11pm.

According to the website they are only testing people flying on the day of their flight (although it sounds as if others have had success being tested provided their flight is within 24 hours)

Also we are staying on the Gold Coast - it'd be a 3hr round trip (+ however long it takes to queue and get a test), not feasible for us due to family commitments unfortunately.

We may end up driving to BNE tomorrow and testing tomorrow evening before flying the following morning.

 

[Quickstatus]

so I assume yes?

Yes

 

[Guvner]

Tassie has updated the testing requirements effective Jan 1:

Testing requirements for travellers entering Tasmania from high-risk and extreme-risk areas are changing from 12.01am on 1 January 2022.

The negative PCR test requirement for fully vaccinated travellers from high and extreme-risk areas and unvaccinated travellers will be replaced with the requirement to return a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) result in the 24 hours prior to departure to Tasmania. PCR test results obtained within 72 hours prior to travel will continue to be accepted but are not necessary, with RAT results now accepted.

In addition, all low-risk LGAs within New South Wales and Victoria will be declared high-risk and all of the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia will be declared high-risk. All of ACT remains high-risk.

Travellers must still register through the Tas e-Travel system and declare their vaccination status and agreement to return a negative test result prior to departure for Tasmania.

Travellers who arrive in Tasmania who have not undertaken a rapid antigen test with a negative result will be required to quarantine until they have undertaken a test and received a negative result. Tests should be performed at your accommodation – not at arrival points – with used tests disposed of according to the instructions provided with the test kit.

Changes to testing requirement for travellers to Tasmania | Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

Information and advice about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) including latest updates from the Tasmanian and Australian Governments.

www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au

Tas e-Travel

register.tasetravel.tas.gov.au

 

[serfty]

According to the website they are only testing people flying on the day of their flight (although it sounds as if others have had success being tested provided their flight is within 24 hours)

Yes, the WebSite content seems to have become lost in translation.

Airport histopaths have clarified ... it is now 24 hours before. Supposedly it always was meant to be but that got lost in translation.

...

See here from facebook (HFC):

 

[justinbrett]

Yes, the WebSite content seems to have become lost in translation.

...

And in any case, it doesn't sound like Brisbane is policing it - understandable due to the lack of flights and passengers.

 

[Grimace1]

Had my test taken by SNP today just before 8am, they advised 24 hours until results.

 

[robynb]

According to the website they are only testing people flying on the day of their flight (although it sounds as if others have had success being tested provided their flight is within 24 hours)

Also we are staying on the Gold Coast - it'd be a 3hr round trip (+ however long it takes to queue and get a test), not feasible for us due to family commitments unfortunately.

We may end up driving to BNE tomorrow and testing tomorrow evening before flying the following morning.

Jase, we live only 15 mins from the airport and not doing much so we will go in there early this afternoon. I'll let you know if they accept us for the day before. If they dont we will line up at 8am tomorrow.

 

[justinbrett]

Jase, we live only 15 mins from the airport and not doing much so we will go in there early this afternoon. I'll let you know if they accept us for the day before. If they dont we will line up at 8am tomorrow.

Would you mind asking if the restriction applies to RATs as well? I wouldn't think so. I'm flying to the US to elected for RAT to see if I can get it done the day before.

 

[robynb]

Would you mind asking if the restriction applies to RATs as well? I wouldn't think so. I'm flying to the US to elected for RAT to see if I can get it done the day before.

Sure. We're also going to US (HNL) but Fiji demand a PCR even for transit :-(

 

[jaseb]

Jase, we live only 15 mins from the airport and not doing much so we will go in there early this afternoon. I'll let you know if they accept us for the day before. If they dont we will line up at 8am tomorrow.

Thanks Robyn - actually, in a bizzarre turn of events, after being told yesterday that the drive through testing site at Tweed Heads weren't doing internationally accredited tests, and us asking for a test anyway, we've just received emails with internationally accredited negative test results.. so we won't need to get tested at the airport now. Wishing you good luck this afternoon!

 

[robynb]

Thanks Robyn - actually, in a bizzarre turn of events, after being told yesterday that the drive through testing site at Tweed Heads weren't doing internationally accredited tests, and us asking for a test anyway, we've just received emails with internationally accredited negative test results.. so we won't need to get tested at the airport now. Wishing you good luck this afternoon!

Ha! Thats great - for you and I - less people in the line did you end up having to pay for it? Was this Healius?

 

[jaseb]

Ha! Thats great - for you and I - less people in the line did you end up having to pay for it? Was this Healius?

Yep - booked and paid for through Healius - QML managed drive through clinic

 

[justinbrett]

Sure. We're also going to US (HNL) but Fiji demand a PCR even for transit :-(

Thanks - I'm flying out of SYD but connecting from BNE. Wasn't my original plan (I live in NSW but up here for Christmas where my family live) but decided to stay in QLD until my international flight as I was worried about getting covid in NSW and not being able to depart (don't really care if I get covid, just don't mess with my travel plans!)