Test to Return to the USA? Pharmacy Test?
 

Do you think the tests they do at the pharmacy will be ok to use to return to the USA? Has anyone used the pharmacy antigen test to return to the USA? Did you have any problems?

The USA accepts rapid tests, so I don't see any issue. We just used rapid tests on our way back from Costa Rica. I really doubt anyone checks them anyway, airline just needs to see something saying "Negative" to let you board.

I got tested at a pharmacy in Paris in April. No problem at all at CDG on the way back to the US. Antigen tests are accepted.

Thanks!

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I remember reading that France is offering complimentary covid test for visitors (this would be useful for my return to the US) - do you know how to get one or was the one you took in the pharmacy free for you as well? Cheers :)

It was free for me by showing my French passport (dual citizen). Not sure how much the covid test will cost in France.

Ah lovely. Thank you.

I got mine today and it was free as a non-citizen. My hotel told me to book it on https://www.doctolib.fr/ and it was free. My hotel said they think if you just walk into a pharmacy it would be free but was not positive so suggested I use that website. I would suggest just walking into a pharmacy when you arrive in France to see if it’s free and if not just make an appointment on that website. If you’re from the US just remember to put a + sign in front of your phone number when registering.

I did my antigen AND RT-PCR tests in Paris on Monday, needed to come back to Switzerland by train cuz, well, Ile-de-France is on the red list. But anyway, there are plenty of white tents in the streets (see one near St-Lazare and Printemps department store, one outside Gap store Rue Auber, one in Chatelet-Les Halles near Fontaine des Innocents, etc). They are usually manned by nearby pharmacies. Non-citizen can do tests for free BUT you need a French mobile phone number. They were stressing out that they had too many problems with non-French numbers where people would not receive the SMS with the link to retrieve the results. They do give you a little paper with a website and QR code where you're supposed to be able to get your results but you wouldn't be alerted when it's ready.

You just need to sign up there, no long queues from what I noticed. Put in your info, and the phone number and then wait in line. The antigen test comes back after 10-15min. The PCR took a bit less than 24h. Did mine on Saturday at 11am and got the result on Sunday at around 10am. Used my friend's French number.
It's free, just say you're a tourist and don't have a carte Vitale.

Lovely! Thank you all for your replies! :)

Other than the timing, is the patient “experience” different between the antigen and PCR tests?

No. Same sampling.

Yes they stick the swab deeper in your nose with a PCR than an antigen test.

just did our return to USA tests at a pharmacy in Paris. Can confirm the antigen test was no big deal. Easier than the PCR nose test, but worse than the saliva tests at home. Kids whined, but that’s their primary function.

We did have to pay. I understand that is not how it is supposed to work, but with the language barrier and ease of transaction, it was easier to just pay and be done.

How soon do you receive results? And how do you receive them?

Results are received around 15 minutes after the swab. They can send you the results via SMS or just ask the pharmacy to print out the certificate for you.

For the record, since this morning results come in a new EU format which is bilingual French/English, and with a QR Code that can be read by any authority in Europe (the previous QR Code could only be read using the French key).

just curious : how much did you pay ?

Dear El Boocho , I was also wondering like Goldorak how much the test cost per person? Traveling to Paris in less than a week and would greatly appreciate your help.

Effective 7/1 all tourists pay. I think it’s 29€ for antigen and 50€ for PCR

It's just been announced that tests will not be free anymore from July 7 for foreigners. Price will be 29€ for antigen test and 49€ for PCR test.

we posted at the same time ;)

How much for each person, please?

see 3 posts above

Funny how Macron first announced that it would be free for all, to encourage tourists to return, then he tried to ask other EU countries to do the same and now he did a 180? :) I got luck in June then....

I didn't see anywhere posted that it would be free for everyone. So if the intent was for the tourism sector I would say it failed miserably.

At the end of the day the fault is on the USA for requiring a test for vaccinated individuals. Really the 29€ is a US entry tax that must be paid to the departing country.

I confirm it was clearly said by French officials back in May or June that tests would be free for foreigners. But they changed their mind...

Ah Goldorak was faster than me :)
It was not Macron though, my bad. It was Clément Beaune the European affairs state secretary who announced it back in May.


https://www.thelocal.fr/20210517/fra...s-this-summer/

But a week ago it was canceled...

But I confirm that I didn't pay mine: pcr + antigenic when I did them in Paris on June 13. I asked for a pcr but they still insisted in doing both.

Thanks. I have been following the situation for several months in advance of our trip at the end of this month, but I didn't see it anywhere.

I would suggest that the fee (just 29 Euro for the antigen test) is a pretty trivial matter compared to the angst of finding time to get the test done during the appropriate time frame prior to leaving.

Please remember it's 72 hours from when you board the plane. And if your flight is delayed or cancelled, that cuts into your 72 hours. The flip side is that some think it's 72 hours from when you land in the US, which would really cut into things. If you're staying in Paris, no problem, but if you're flying out of Paris but coming back from elsewhere (say, Lourdes) then it can be a bit more problematic.

I have heard three calendar days numerous times.

The app used by the Bion-whatever test displays time in hours, not days, not days and hours, just hours. I would not want to risk an interpretation that 3x24hr days could somehow mean anything less than 4 days.

According to the official source it’s three days for the United States and they have been very clear that they did not mean 72 hours.


https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...g-covid19.html

[QUOTE=Orange County Commuter;33437400]According to the official source it’s three days for the United States and they have been very clear that they did not mean 72 hours.


https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...g-covid19.html[/QUOTESo it could be less than 72 hours... 3 days can work for or against you. Interesting.

The CDC form you are required to fill out, PASSENGER DISCLOSURE AND ATTESTATION TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (cdc.gov) says:

There is no reasonable interpretation of these words that would have them mean what worries you. Maybe take that up with the test vendors?

All, be arriving in CDG on a Tuesday around 5pm. And I do need to take a test for an event (event though I am vaxed).

Are there any pharmacies in the Vendôme area that open til late? Prefers rapid test.

Appreciate any insights etc.

An option I would recommend is to look for night clubs. Pharmacies will setup tents outside of them for quick testing in order for those without the pass to enter. It’s the same test you would get anywhere and you will have the results in 15 mins. The QR code you receive (printed or via SMS) will be valid for 48hrs.

The things is how “late” you want to get tested? Most night clubs only open after midnight, so that is extra late. Many pharmacies will still be open into the evening. Best would be to ask your hotel when you check in.

This is a brilliant idea. And get a drink after that as well. Thanks!

And I have to show the QR code to the authorities within 48hours that is? Also, this code is scannable into the Tous app?

Most pharmacies are usually open until 7:30/8pm on weekdays and Pharmacie du Palais Royal on Rue St Honoré closes around 10pm.

You may want to call before going as some pharmacies will not perform tests after 6 or 7pm. Otherwise you can book an appointment for a test on Doctolib.fr. You can look for nearby testing sites by using the postal code – for Place Vendôme that would be 75001.

Test results come on an SMS with a link to the results page, from where you can download it into Tous Anti Covid.

They will give you a receipt with a QR code you can use for entry into the various places and you can also choose to “import” it into the Tousanticovid app. (By scanning the QR code). The code will be usable for 48hr from the test time.

Just remember the cost of the Antigen test is 29€ and is no longer offered for free to foreigners (unless you are a French citizen). No need to spend extra (49€) for the PCR test, it’s not required for entry in those places.

Doing some risk analysis before I leave.

what if you test positive?. How long before you are allowed a second test and how go you get it if quarantined?

seemd like the smart play might be to get two tests around the same time to bring the chance of false positive to zero.

what if you are in between hotels when the positive tests come (say a smaller town line Rouen, vs CDG/Paris).

seems smart to get the results while still checked in),