Covid tests for international travel

[dancingirl21]

I have a specific question about the Covid tests for international travel.

We need to test to come back to the U.S. United and Abbott have these tests available:

store.optum.com/shop/products/abbott-binaxNOW-COVID-19-ag-at-home-test-kit-2-pack

This is a 2-pack with Telehealth so we can take it in the hotel room. Is this 2-pack intended for just one person or is this for 2 people? Will there be the option for 2 (hopefully) negative test results for DH and I each with this?

Thanks!

[steamboat185]

We just bought the 3 pack and used it last week. Each test is for a different person. We bought the 3 pack just in case one of the tests were damaged.

[bee20]

Same as steamboat185 , we brought 3 tests for 2 travelers. There is only one test per box, unlike the binax retail packages.

ETA, I also brought a pack of the non-proctored tests so if someone tested positive and had to quarantine they'd have something to go on and then hopefully be able to take the third test to exit quarantine after 5 days.

[dancingirl21]

Where did you get the 3-pack? I only see an option for 2 and 6.

ETA: never mind. I see the 3 pack now.

[ny96]

Are these allowed by the US? It was my understanding that home tests were not allowed to confirm Covid negative status prior to a return flight to the US.

[steamboat185]

Mar 22, 2022 14:29:11 GMT -5 ny96 said:

Are these allowed by the US? It was my understanding that home tests were not allowed to confirm Covid negative status prior to a return flight to the US.

The emed tests that are proctored are allowed. We’ve used them 3x’s without issue. You have a video call with someone who watches you do the tests and verified the results. While it’s the same test as the Binaxnow, the process is different.

[ny96]

Mar 22, 2022 14:37:39 GMT -5 steamboat185 said:

Mar 22, 2022 14:29:11 GMT -5 ny96 said:

Are these allowed by the US? It was my understanding that home tests were not allowed to confirm Covid negative status prior to a return flight to the US.

The emed tests that are proctored are allowed. We’ve used them 3x’s without issue. You have a video call with someone who watches you do the tests and verified the results. While it’s the same test as the Binaxnow, the process is different.

Thank you! This is really good news. We are going to Costa Rica and will need to take the test on Easter. I was stressing about availability of testing that day and the cost of testing for a family of 4. This makes things so much easier!

[mrsGreeko]

Mar 22, 2022 14:42:58 GMT -5 ny96 said:

Mar 22, 2022 14:37:39 GMT -5 steamboat185 said:

The emed tests that are proctored are allowed. We’ve used them 3x’s without issue. You have a video call with someone who watches you do the tests and verified the results. While it’s the same test as the Binaxnow, the process is different.

Thank you! This is really good news. We are going to Costa Rica and will need to take the test on Easter. I was stressing about availability of testing that day and the cost of testing for a family of 4. This makes things so much easier!

From what I could tell the emed tests require you to buy 2 tests per person. It’s the main reason we are currently in Portugal without those tests, but it looks easy enough to get tested in Lisbon before we return. Hopefully it is otherwise we are screwed. It’s only about $35 per person instead of the $50 per person emed was charging with the having to buy 2 tests per person. I was hoping the US would rescind the illogical rule prior to it being an issue for us. Seems unlikely they will rescind before Sunday, but they may before Easter. It seem most countries are pretty set up for the stupid 1 day testing requirement that the US has. I bet Costa Rica really is because their American tourism level is really high. And I bet they are way cheaper than the emed tests. I went back and forth about buying the emed test or not for weeks before our trip. I was able to eventually find several options in Lisbon and could see appointment times 3 weeks out so I felt pretty comfortable I’d be able to get cheaper and quicker gets because we have 5 people and I didn’t want to spend a full 30 minutes for each person, because at a place I can get us all swabbed at once and then only wait 15 minutes. You can’t do that with the proctored tests, you have to do them one at a time. Also have heard many stories about one of the tests not having any liquid for the emed tests and you cannot just use leftover liquid from someone else’s test or anything, you have to open a whole new proctored test. Seems like a bigger headache to me.

[ny96]

Mar 22, 2022 15:32:37 GMT -5 mrsGreeko said:

Mar 22, 2022 14:42:58 GMT -5 ny96 said:

Thank you! This is really good news. We are going to Costa Rica and will need to take the test on Easter. I was stressing about availability of testing that day and the cost of testing for a family of 4. This makes things so much easier!

From what I could tell the emed tests require you to buy 2 tests per person. It’s the main reason we are currently in Portugal without those tests, but it looks easy enough to get tested in Lisbon before we return. Hopefully it is otherwise we are screwed. It’s only about $35 per person instead of the $50 per person emed was charging with the having to buy 2 tests per person. I was hoping the US would rescind the illogical rule prior to it being an issue for us. Seems unlikely they will rescind before Sunday, but they may before Easter. It seem most countries are pretty set up for the stupid 1 day testing requirement that the US has. I bet Costa Rica really is because their American tourism level is really high. And I bet they are way cheaper than the emed tests. I went back and forth about buying the emed test or not for weeks before our trip. I was able to eventually find several options in Lisbon and could see appointment times 3 weeks out so I felt pretty comfortable I’d be able to get cheaper and quicker gets because we have 5 people and I didn’t want to spend a full 30 minutes for each person, because at a place I can get us all swabbed at once and then only wait 15 minutes. You can’t do that with the proctored tests, you have to do them one at a time. Also have heard many stories about one of the tests not having any liquid for the emed tests and you cannot just use leftover liquid from someone else’s test or anything, you have to open a whole new proctored test. Seems like a bigger headache to me.

I see the 2 tests per person thing too, but I can’t figure out whether that’s a recommendation or a requirement. If it’s a requirement why do they also sell them in packs of 3 too? I’m so confused.

[ny96]

Mar 22, 2022 16:10:21 GMT -5 ny96 said:

Mar 22, 2022 15:32:37 GMT -5 mrsGreeko said:

From what I could tell the emed tests require you to buy 2 tests per person. It’s the main reason we are currently in Portugal without those tests, but it looks easy enough to get tested in Lisbon before we return. Hopefully it is otherwise we are screwed. It’s only about $35 per person instead of the $50 per person emed was charging with the having to buy 2 tests per person. I was hoping the US would rescind the illogical rule prior to it being an issue for us. Seems unlikely they will rescind before Sunday, but they may before Easter. It seem most countries are pretty set up for the stupid 1 day testing requirement that the US has. I bet Costa Rica really is because their American tourism level is really high. And I bet they are way cheaper than the emed tests. I went back and forth about buying the emed test or not for weeks before our trip. I was able to eventually find several options in Lisbon and could see appointment times 3 weeks out so I felt pretty comfortable I’d be able to get cheaper and quicker gets because we have 5 people and I didn’t want to spend a full 30 minutes for each person, because at a place I can get us all swabbed at once and then only wait 15 minutes. You can’t do that with the proctored tests, you have to do them one at a time. Also have heard many stories about one of the tests not having any liquid for the emed tests and you cannot just use leftover liquid from someone else’s test or anything, you have to open a whole new proctored test. Seems like a bigger headache to me.

I see the 2 tests per person thing too, but I can’t figure out whether that’s a recommendation or a requirement. If it’s a requirement why do they also sell them in packs of 3 too? I’m so confused.

After reading through Abbott’s website, it looks like it’s recommended to bring more than one. I ordered 4 kids from the Optum website and just cancelled that order. I think I’ll order a 6 pack for the 4 of us from armed We should be good, right?

[dancingirl21]

Mar 22, 2022 16:10:21 GMT -5 ny96 said:

Mar 22, 2022 15:32:37 GMT -5 mrsGreeko said:

From what I could tell the emed tests require you to buy 2 tests per person. It’s the main reason we are currently in Portugal without those tests, but it looks easy enough to get tested in Lisbon before we return. Hopefully it is otherwise we are screwed. It’s only about $35 per person instead of the $50 per person emed was charging with the having to buy 2 tests per person. I was hoping the US would rescind the illogical rule prior to it being an issue for us. Seems unlikely they will rescind before Sunday, but they may before Easter. It seem most countries are pretty set up for the stupid 1 day testing requirement that the US has. I bet Costa Rica really is because their American tourism level is really high. And I bet they are way cheaper than the emed tests. I went back and forth about buying the emed test or not for weeks before our trip. I was able to eventually find several options in Lisbon and could see appointment times 3 weeks out so I felt pretty comfortable I’d be able to get cheaper and quicker gets because we have 5 people and I didn’t want to spend a full 30 minutes for each person, because at a place I can get us all swabbed at once and then only wait 15 minutes. You can’t do that with the proctored tests, you have to do them one at a time. Also have heard many stories about one of the tests not having any liquid for the emed tests and you cannot just use leftover liquid from someone else’s test or anything, you have to open a whole new proctored test. Seems like a bigger headache to me.

I see the 2 tests per person thing too, but I can’t figure out whether that’s a recommendation or a requirement. If it’s a requirement why do they also sell them in packs of 3 too? I’m so confused.

This is why I asked the question. It does look like 2 per person but I can’t figure out if that is required. It’s all very confusing.

[mrsGreeko]

Mar 22, 2022 16:22:26 GMT -5 dancingirl21 said:

Mar 22, 2022 16:10:21 GMT -5 ny96 said:

I see the 2 tests per person thing too, but I can’t figure out whether that’s a recommendation or a requirement. If it’s a requirement why do they also sell them in packs of 3 too? I’m so confused.

This is why I asked the question. It does look like 2 per person but I can’t figure out if that is required. It’s all very confusing.

When I went to buy the emed tests it was going to make me put in the names of the 3 people for the pack of 6 tests and looked like the names of the people couldn’t be changed later. I didn’t complete the transaction because I didn’t want to purchase 12 tests at a cost of $300 for 5 people, but from what I could tell you could not use the test for person x for person y. They are getting rich off this rule.

[steamboat185]

Mar 22, 2022 16:21:37 GMT -5 ny96 said:

Mar 22, 2022 16:10:21 GMT -5 ny96 said:

I see the 2 tests per person thing too, but I can’t figure out whether that’s a recommendation or a requirement. If it’s a requirement why do they also sell them in packs of 3 too? I’m so confused.

After reading through Abbott’s website, it looks like it’s recommended to bring more than one. I ordered 4 kids from the Optum website and just cancelled that order. I think I’ll order a 6 pack for the 4 of us from armed We should be good, right?

You will be fine. They don’t ask if you have more than one per person. It’s super easy you just scan the QR on the box and set up an account in NAVICA when you want to test. It takes 15 minutes and you get the results immediately.