What COVID-19 tests are required for international travel?
It depends on where you are going.
In an effort to limit the spread of new coronavirus variants, many countries require incoming travelers to show a recent negative test.
For example, the US will accept results from a test that detects the genetic material of the virus – which is considered to be the most sensitive type of test – or a rapid test that looks for viral proteins called antigens. The tests must be completed no more than three days before you leave for the USA
Health workers usually perform more sensitive laboratory tests via a nasal swab that takes a day or longer to produce results. Quick tests have a turnaround time of about 15 to 30 minutes and are increasingly used to examine people at test sites, offices, schools and nursing homes. For some quick tests, users can wash themselves at home.
With one of the two tests, the US requires a medical laboratory an electronic or printed proof of the negative result. This means that even if you plan to do the faster test, you will probably need to visit a healthcare provider who can provide documentation.
England have a similar setup and accept the results of both types of tests. But health authorities there set additional requirements, including that the tests meet certain thresholds for accuracy. Travelers are advised to make sure their test meets the standards.
After countries introduced different requirements, officials in the European Union agreed to standardize the requirements in the block of 27 countries.
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The AP answers your questions about the coronavirus in this series. Submit it to: [email protected].
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