Rapid test for travel with own tests

Feb 28th, 2022 9:03 pm

#1

killuminati [OP]: Deal Addict; Mar 29, 2003; 1989 posts; 268 upvotes

Feb 28th, 2022 9:03 pm

I noticed some sites are now offering to provide the testing appointment online and provide travel doc if you already have the test. The free 5 pack we were given in Ontario is eligible.

Cheapest I've seen is $35. Has anyone found a cheaper option?

https://expressrapidtest.ca/products/ra ... 5594999040

https://covidtest.santemedic.ca/toronto ... F8QAvD_BwE

Feb 28th, 2022 9:15 pm

#2

shushwap: Deal Addict; Sep 17, 2011; 3840 posts; 623 upvotes

Feb 28th, 2022 9:15 pm

Interesting..
This is going to give the switch health tests a run for there money
Edit:
I stumbled across this
https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerow ... ts-travel/

https://www.azova.com/testing/ellume/

https://www.proofofentry.com/shop/

https://medicaldirectcanada.com/pages/c ... ng-service

Looks as though u need to make sure the test is acceptable for the country u plan to enter

+1

Mar 1st, 2022 2:39 am

#3

litebrite: Deal Addict; Oct 9, 2003; 3754 posts; 1147 upvotes; Vancouver

Mar 1st, 2022 2:39 am

https://lifecenters.ca/

This place seems to offer a similar service for $20. A 2nd, 3rd, and 4th person can be added to the same appointment for an additional $5/person.

+11

Mar 1st, 2022 7:33 am

#4

Tha_Doggg: Deal Fanatic; Oct 24, 2005; 5088 posts; 1043 upvotes; Burlington

Mar 1st, 2022 7:33 am

litebrite wrote: ↑ https://lifecenters.ca/

This place seems to offer a similar service for $20. A 2nd, 3rd, and 4th person can be added to the same appointment for an additional $5/person.

Must be the cheapest so far. Anyone use them?

Mar 1st, 2022 7:56 am

#5

RideGuy: Deal Addict; Sep 15, 2003; 2495 posts; 503 upvotes

Mar 1st, 2022 7:56 am

litebrite wrote: ↑ https://lifecenters.ca/

This place seems to offer a similar service for $20. A 2nd, 3rd, and 4th person can be added to the same appointment for an additional $5/person.

This is amazing! You need to supply your own Antigen test, but I've got lots. Thanks!

Going to Western New York this weekend. Walgreens and CVS do not do Antigen tests. I could do a free PCR, but they are far more sensitive and I'm afraid to test positive.

Mar 1st, 2022 9:04 am

#6

Ilovedeals: Sr. Member; Jun 17, 2003; 670 posts; 98 upvotes; Toronto, ON

Mar 1st, 2022 9:04 am

litebrite wrote: ↑ https://lifecenters.ca/

This place seems to offer a similar service for $20. A 2nd, 3rd, and 4th person can be added to the same appointment for an additional $5/person.

This sounds perfect. A great price and looks like it checks out for being accepted. Thank you!

Mar 1st, 2022 10:57 am

#7

hap86: Member; Nov 21, 2005; 278 posts; 105 upvotes

Mar 1st, 2022 10:57 am

Nice to see more offerings here...wish I'd known about it earlier, I have a BinaxNow kit due to expire in Mid-March, could have used it instead of using up one of my SwitchHealth tests...

The critical factor in these 'observed' tests is the availability of video monitors: are they available 7 days a week? And how easy is it to get hold of a person? For SwitchHealth, I can usually get hold of someone within 5 minutes.

It will be interesting to hear other people's experiences with these other providers.

Mar 1st, 2022 11:33 am

#8

shushwap: Deal Addict; Sep 17, 2011; 3840 posts; 623 upvotes

Mar 1st, 2022 11:33 am

hap86 wrote: ↑

The critical factor in these 'observed' tests is the availability of video monitors: are they available 7 days a week? And how easy is it to get hold of a person? For SwitchHealth, I can usually get hold of someone within 5 minutes.

It will be interesting to hear other people's experiences with these other providers.

That would be my main concern.. Getting down to the states and not being able to get in touch with someone

Health Canada list of approved tests in Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/ ... /list.html

Mar 1st, 2022 11:51 am

#9

RideGuy: Deal Addict; Sep 15, 2003; 2495 posts; 503 upvotes

Mar 1st, 2022 11:51 am

shushwap wrote: ↑ That would be my main concern.. Getting down to the states and not being able to get in touch with someone

Health Canada list of approved tests in Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/ ... /list.html

It looks like CVS is out of the free test game, but Walgreens is still going. Book yourself an ID-NOW (NAAT) test as a backup just incase.

Mar 1st, 2022 12:28 pm

#10

KingMoobot: Sr. Member; Feb 24, 2019; 632 posts; 1015 upvotes

Mar 1st, 2022 12:28 pm

pretty important to state whether these are acceptable for travel TO the US or back home FROM the US

+1

Mar 1st, 2022 12:39 pm

#11

xchrisx: Newbie; Feb 13, 2007; 43 posts; 13 upvotes

Mar 1st, 2022 12:39 pm

RideGuy wrote: ↑ It looks like CVS is out of the free test game, but Walgreens is still going. Book yourself an ID-NOW (NAAT) test as a backup just incase.

Really? I booked 4 rapid test for March 11th in Orlando and they seemed to be free. I tried other CVS around and they said that they could MAYBE charge 139$

Mar 1st, 2022 1:26 pm

#12

CorSter: Deal Addict; Mar 30, 2004; 4823 posts; 2250 upvotes; Durham Region

Mar 1st, 2022 1:26 pm

Medionerx is doing this as well. $24.99

Last edited by CorSter on Mar 1st, 2022 1:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Mar 1st, 2022 1:26 pm

#13

CorSter: Deal Addict; Mar 30, 2004; 4823 posts; 2250 upvotes; Durham Region

Mar 1st, 2022 1:26 pm

KingMoobot wrote: ↑ pretty important to state whether these are acceptable for travel TO the US or back home FROM the US

As of yesterday, acceptable for both ways.

Mar 1st, 2022 2:15 pm

#14

RideGuy: Deal Addict; Sep 15, 2003; 2495 posts; 503 upvotes

Mar 1st, 2022 2:15 pm

xchrisx wrote: ↑ Really? I booked 4 rapid test for March 11th in Orlando and they seemed to be free. I tried other CVS around and they said that they could MAYBE charge 139$

I don't know which part you are responding to.

When I try to book Antigen online with Walgreens it doesn't show my any locations in Florida. Same goes for Western New York.

When I try to book with CVS they have removed the "for travel" option. So if you want it for free, you have to lie about why you are getting it.

Mar 1st, 2022 2:21 pm

#15

xchrisx: Newbie; Feb 13, 2007; 43 posts; 13 upvotes

Mar 1st, 2022 2:21 pm

RideGuy wrote: ↑ I don't know which part you are responding to.

When I try to book Antigen online with Walgreens it doesn't show my any locations in Florida. Same goes for Western New York.

When I try to book with CVS they have removed the "for travel" option. So if you want it for free, you have to lie about why you are getting it.

About the tests not being free anymore. Walgreens seems to have rapid test only in Virginia since last week.

CVS does not ask if It's for travel and when you fill all the information about insurance It say: We bill your insurance or a federal program so that it’s no cost to you.1

Mar 1st, 2022 3:22 pm

#16

RideGuy: Deal Addict; Sep 15, 2003; 2495 posts; 503 upvotes

Mar 1st, 2022 3:22 pm

xchrisx wrote: ↑ About the tests not being free anymore. Walgreens seems to have rapid test only in Virginia since last week.

CVS does not ask if It's for travel and when you fill all the information about insurance It say: We bill your insurance or a federal program so that it’s no cost to you.1

I'm still not following what you are saying. Did you book at CVS? Did you say "yes" you have insurance?

CVS in the past if you answered "yes, the test is for travel" and "no to insurance" you would get a free test. it doesn't seem to work that way anymore.

Mar 1st, 2022 4:54 pm

#17

litebrite: Deal Addict; Oct 9, 2003; 3754 posts; 1147 upvotes; Vancouver

Mar 1st, 2022 4:54 pm

hap86 wrote: ↑ The critical factor in these 'observed' tests is the availability of video monitors: are they available 7 days a week? And how easy is it to get hold of a person? For SwitchHealth, I can usually get hold of someone within 5 minutes.

For the price of their service, the downside is definitely less flexibility compared to Switch Health telehealth appointments. In clicking around the Life Centers site, it seems you need to book specific appointment blocks and because they're located in Alberta, they're on mountain time. The hours seem to be regular-ish business hours (~7:30 am to 6:30 pm) So if one is looking use this service while abroad, one would need to be sure of their schedule in order to make the appointment!

+1

Mar 1st, 2022 5:51 pm

#18

Raggie: Deal Fanatic; Jul 29, 2005; 9140 posts; 3025 upvotes; Mississauga

Mar 1st, 2022 5:51 pm

Which travel antigen kit will be good to use in Europe and to enter Portugal? One thing I'm nervous about is internet quality overseas.

My food blog - Reggie The Food Critic.

Mar 1st, 2022 8:26 pm

#19

chay9220: Member; Jul 16, 2019; 236 posts; 237 upvotes

Mar 1st, 2022 8:26 pm

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nc ... elers.html
I'm still worried about what test will be accepted, it says rapid and self tests are accepted.
What's the cheapest/easiest option.
I want to go to florida

Mar 1st, 2022 9:02 pm

#20

shushwap: Deal Addict; Sep 17, 2011; 3840 posts; 623 upvotes

Mar 1st, 2022 9:02 pm

chay9220 wrote: ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nc ... elers.html
I'm still worried about what test will be accepted, it says rapid and self tests are accepted.
What's the cheapest/easiest option.
I want to go to florida

You need to figure out what tests the cdc accept... Or go the switch health route as they are accepted

+1