Free / Cheap / Quick - Covid PCR / NAAT test in U.S. cities for Canadians returning to Canada

luxurytravel wrote: ↑ Which of the two facilities did you find easier to deal with? Are any of them open on the weekends or only on weekdays?

They were both easy to deal with, Curative was a slightly faster process since there wasn’t any lineup whatsoever but the turnaround isn’t as reliable for an overnight trip. They both have multiple locations and you just have to click around their sites to find the specific hours for each location.

Regardless, both were in and out within 15 mins of getting to the test site. I’d go back but use only UW.

For those that were able to get testing done at Walgreens, do you have to book an appointment or can you just drop in?
I'm trying to book a time slot but it doesn't allow me to proceed since I don't reside in US (no option to select province instead of state).

trixR4kids wrote: ↑ For those that were able to get testing done at Walgreens, do you have to book an appointment or can you just drop in?
I'm trying to book a time slot but it doesn't allow me to proceed since I don't reside in US (no option to select province instead of state).

U have to pre book appointment...use the state u plan to be tested in

trixR4kids wrote: ↑ For those that were able to get testing done at Walgreens, do you have to book an appointment or can you just drop in?
I'm trying to book a time slot but it doesn't allow me to proceed since I don't reside in US (no option to select province instead of state).

book online and use hotel address. It doesnt matter what time you show up for your test as long as its pre booked.

City: Atlanta
Date: Nov 9, 2021
Lab: CVS
Type: PCR Test
Time taken: 11:50
Cost: Free
ID/documents: Accepted Ontario Drivers license
Time: 30 hours but they don't actually email you to notify, you have to log back into the health portal and check.

wt1909 wrote: ↑ They were both easy to deal with, Curative was a slightly faster process since there wasn’t any lineup whatsoever but the turnaround isn’t as reliable for an overnight trip. They both have multiple locations and you just have to click around their sites to find the specific hours for each location.

Regardless, both were in and out within 15 mins of getting to the test site. I’d go back but use only UW.

Thank you for the info. I'm going to Seattle in a couple weeks and have an appointment already booked with UW Med's Harborview location for a Friday morning (I'm leaving on the Monday). Do you think booking a Curative appointment for the same day would be overkill?

Talamasca wrote: ↑ Thank you for the info. I'm going to Seattle in a couple weeks and have an appointment already booked with UW Med's Harborview location for a Friday morning (I'm leaving on the Monday). Do you think booking a Curative appointment for the same day would be overkill?

When I went, I personally avoided using the Harborview location as on their website there seems to be extra specific rules/different procedures with their Harborview and Northwest locations under the "How billing for your COVID-19 test works" section and it saying "Note that UW Medicine providers can only access test results from Harborview Medical Center and UW Medical Center – Northwest." on their website. Just thought I'd share my thought on that.

Curative appointments seem to be very easy to do as well, the one reason I did mine was if the UW Medicine came back inconclusive then I'd be screwed in crossing the border at my intended time. I think UW's turnaround is good enough that if it did come back inconclusive then you would have enough time to go again - but there really is no guarantee, so I'd rather be safe than sorry especially on a trip.

jookid wrote: ↑ book online and use hotel address. It doesnt matter what time you show up for your test as long as its pre booked.

My trip is late January 2022..can I book Walgreens test in December or too early? Tia

mikka2017 wrote: ↑ My trip is late January 2022..can I book Walgreens test in December or too early? Tia

Might be too early. I booked my test a couple days before. I think the covid test rule for land border crossing might be changed by then anyway.

Vako636 wrote: ↑ Step 1: For now research all Walgreen and CVS locations. Careful, as not ALL of them do COVID tests.
Step 2: Google Labs that do COVID test and try to find the cheapest. In Orlando I found a test for 120$ US guaranteed 72 hours for travelling.

Thank you!

I have a feeling that the days of free testing for Canadians vacationing in the U.S. paid for by the U.S. government are coming to an end soon. It's just a hunch.

muscan wrote: ↑ I have a feeling that the days of free testing for Canadians vacationing in the U.S. paid for by the U.S. government are coming to an end soon. It's just a hunch.

Could be the case, BUT you should still have a back up plan. I wouldnt rely on the FREE test, potentially not having it in TIME and miss out on the flight. Then you need to reschedule(potential fee) more hotel stay till the new flight.

muscan wrote: ↑ I have a feeling that the days of free testing for Canadians vacationing in the U.S. paid for by the U.S. government are coming to an end soon. It's just a hunch.

That might be the case but really, it's a drop in the bucket; the US has 10X the population and how many Canadians are actually travelling to the US and getting tests? It might end up being 1-2% of the total tests are for Canadians. I don't see them making a change because of that.

jookid wrote: ↑ I booked ID Now at Walgreens in Dunkirk NY. Got my results emailed to me an hour after the test. Total time to take the test at the drive thru is like 5 mins. Heading back to [...] Canada today.

this was on sunday?

and to anyone else...is there any delay/time difference on weekend testing vs weekday testing at walgreens? faster during the week? thx

Charles wrote: ↑ this was on sunday?

and to anyone else...is there any delay/time difference on weekend testing vs weekday testing at walgreens? faster during the week? thx

This was on Thursday last week.

City: LA, California November 12, 2021
Name of lab/organization: WorksiteLabs
Type of tests available: NAAT RT- PCR
Cost: $90
Approximate processing time (stated vs. actual): Guaranteed results within 24 hours; actual results received in 10 hours.
Booked two weeks in advance, samples were taken at drive-through facility just outside LAX airport. (9800 South Sepulveda Blvd.).

City: LA, California November 11, 2021
Name of lab/organization: Free test at Santa Monica Pier .... walk-up - cheek swab. Actual lab performing processing was "Wilshire Clinic"
Type of tests available: RT- PCR
Cost: Free, plus they gave out soft drinks and candy! Were not the least bit concerned that we were from Canada.
Approximate processing time (stated vs. actual): Stated 24 hours, but admitted sample wouldn't be delivered to lab until 4:30 PM. Actual results in 28 hours from sample, within 24 hours of lab receiving samples.


There were multiple stands for free Covid testing all over LA: Venice Beach, at least 3 in KoreaTown, Hollywood&Vine, etc... (but the processing might be done by different labs, so can't comment of how quickly results would be returned)

jookid wrote: ↑ This was on Thursday last week.

thanks...btw did walgreens ask you for "Your medical and pharmacy benefit insurance card"? it mentions it on the info page for the test

City: Niagara Falls, NY (November 12, 2021)
Name of lab/organization: Walgreens
Type of tests available: PCR
Cost: Free
Approximate processing time (stated vs. actual): Stated <72 hours, actual 60 hours
Tips/Tricks: None. Clerk just verbally asked for name and DOB.

City: Rochester, NY (November 13, 2021)
Name of lab/organization: Walgreens
Type of tests available: NAAT (ID NOW), also PCR
Cost: Free
Approximate processing time (stated vs. actual): Stated <24 hours, actual 30 minutes for NAAT
Tips/Tricks: None. Clerk actually asked for ID. Ontario driver's licence sufficed.

City: Budd Lake, NJ
Name of lab/organization: LabQ
Type of tests available: PCR
Cost: $0
Approximate processing time (stated vs. actual): 24 hours, got result in 15 hours
Tips/Tricks: Budd Lake location has lab on site, expect slower turnaround time if tested at a mobile site
Link: https://labq.com/covid-mobile-testing/

Charles wrote: ↑ thanks...btw did walgreens ask you for "Your medical and pharmacy benefit insurance card"? it mentions it on the info page for the test

Nope, they didn't even ask us for ID. Just our name and phone number