spartacus81

Any recommendations for PCR testing in Paris for travel back to Canada? Lots of pharmacies and labs do PCR tests, but not sure how reliable they are.

Also I noticed there is a "Rapid PCR" test done at CDG and one other lab I found in the city, I'm assuming "Rapid PCR" is ok for entry to Canada, right?

rankourabu

Flying on Tuesday back home.
So here in Florida Walgreens doesnt do weekend tests, so we did CVS on Sunday. Still no results >24hrs later.
Decided not to take any chances and did Walgreens NAAT today, results in an hour with a nice pdf report.

Used Canadian passport for both CVS and Walgreens

Uploaded the results, and arrivecan screenshot into the United app, came back approved about 15 mins later and boarding passes issued. Hopefully that will be enough to skip any airport procedures tomorrow.

Really like this preapproval vs having to deal with a possibly rogue airport agent.

Yul_voyager

The rapid PCR in CDG is probably fine, you just have to pay an extra 20 euro and book it before you go at the airport.
Any PCR done in a lab should be fine as well, just do it between 48h and 72h before your flight because they are pretty busy now...

lcohen999

I had a Rapid PCR done out of PDX, was fine with customs. As long as it says PCR and not Antigen, you are fine

aimango

My tip is to avoid flying in on Wednesdays if you're doing PCR (non-rapid) test, so that you don't need to look for tests on a Sunday (72 hours before). In NYC there's a bunch of pop-up mobile testing sites done by QLab and I got my results in 12-18 hrs. Other medical centers that don't dedicate to doing covid testing take a bit longer - had One Medical take 1 day which is faster than their norm, and CityMD actually took more than 3 days, got my results after I already entered Canada.

Also it's best to print the test results if you have a printer. Having a bunch of stuff on your phone and them scrolling around just adds a lot more energy and shows you're less prepared.

Interesting to hear that Rapid PCR works fine with customs though, I guess I didn't do that much research and was confused by all the wording used, assumed that it would be best if I just got PCR.

Adam Smith

If you're flying on a Wednesday, you don't need to get tested on Sunday, you can get tested on Monday or Tuesday. Finding a provider that offers an appropriate turnaround time is always the key, and doing the test earlier can help, but I don't think it makes enough of a difference to worry about.

It will simplify your life a bit to have a printed copy, but if you've queued things up on your phone in advance, it doesn't show you're less prepared.

Any molecular test (PCR, NAAT, many others), rapid or not, is acceptable.

CorSter

I had a Wednesday flight, and got tested with LabQ in NYC on Sunday morning. No problem at all. Probably could have got tested on Monday or Tuesday too and still had the results in time.

jer3

Has anyone returned from Athens recently? I'm trying to just determine if the Rapid Test (Abbott/Panbio Covid 19 Ag Immunochromatography method) would be considered acceptable for entry back into Canada. The PCR and Rapid test is 60€ vs. 20€ so it's a pretty big price difference.

spartacus81

Thanks, I ended up getting a rapid PCR test done at a Cerballiance lab (the same company that does the testing at CDG, but at CDG you can only get the rapid test if you're travelling same day). The lab report didn't even mention it was a rapid PCR, just said Real Time RT-PCR.

spartacus81

The Abbot/Panbio looks to be an Antigen test, which would not be accepted in Canada.

Soopergal

do you think this PCR test requirement for pre-boarding and entering Canada will end anytime soon?

EmailKid

No.

capedreamer

Does anyone have recommendations for fast (and ideally free) PCR testing in San Diego in the Gaslamp Quarter area?

Visiting for a short work trip and won't have a lot of downtime so would love to find something close to the hotel (Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter).

Thank you!

yerffej201

Has anyone ever looked into using the Lucira Health Check It Covid tests? It has Health Canada and CDC EUA, and is RT-Lamp which would qualify for re-entry into Canada. Would be amazing if self-swab tests were allowed.

myspambucket

Try to book ahead at the CVS on 5th. Should be free.