Now when you fly internationally you’ll find that there are a lot of countries that are requiring you to have a negative PCR certificate to fly. This is especially true for tourists and non-residents of the country. They want this test to be performed by an accredited or approved lab and within a specific timeframe. The benefit to you is that you’ll get to enjoy a quarantine-free travel experience.
What Type of Covid Test You Need
One of the most common and reliable forms of Covid testing is the RT-PCR (Real-time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction) test. While there are also rapid antigen tests and antibody tests available some places won’t accept these tests because they can produce false positives/negatives.
The PCR test is done via a nasopharyngeal swab. This means that both your nose and the back of your throat will need to be swabbed.
Where to Get Tested
There are numerous places (e.g. pharmacies, clinics, hospitals) that are administering this test today. The best way to get tested though is to contact your healthcare provider. They’ll be able to tell you where you can get tested in your area. They can also help you with any other information you may need in order to get a negative PCR certificate to fly.
How Long Tests Take
When you’re making plans to fly somewhere you’ll need to remember that most domestic and international destinations will allow for a 72-hour window between the time you get tested and the time you arrive for your flight. The turnaround time for your PCR test will vary depending upon how the test is administered. While the RT-PCR is fast (you can get results in 30 – 40 minutes) other tests may take a few days before you’ll receive their results. This is why it’s recommended to take the test the week prior to your flight.
How the Vaccine Affects PCR Tests
There aren’t yet any official rulings regarding whether you’ll be exempt from getting a PCR test before flying if you’ve been vaccinated. This doesn’t mean that in the future you won’t be offered perks if you’ve received the vaccine. It’s quite possible that one of these perks may be the fact that you won’t need to be tested before flying. Many people are waiting anxiously to find out what will happen but for now, you’ll still need to get tested before you fly.
