GoAmerica has made it easy for you to see what it takes to get an antigen test and get you started on your US passport application.
What if you test positive?
If you test positive for COVID-19, or if you are being assessed as a close contact to someone with COVID-19, you may be asked to get tested. If you test positive for COVID-19, you will be asked to get treatment and follow the instructions of your healthcare provider. If you feel you need to get tested because you are being assessed as a close contact, talk to your health care provider about whether you need to get tested. They may decide to test you without telling you, and you may need to be tested while you’re still in the US, or once you are in Canada. While there is no risk of passing the virus to someone else while you are getting tested, there is a risk that you will pass the virus to someone else if you are not treated.
When and where is the test available?
The 2019-nCoV test for the novel Coronavirus can be done at any regular clinic or hospital, including travel clinics, with either a direct-to-lab test or self-taken sample. Both the CDC and FDA-approved the use of the PCR test. The PCR test detects the virus RNA from a patient’s sample. The test results are available within 24-48 hours. As long as your travel plans stay within the U.S., you can’t be denied entry. For those who are not U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, you can be denied entry if you have traveled or plan to travel to any country with a severe outbreak of the virus.
Why is this test important?
Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, sore throat, and shortness of breath. In severe cases, patients can experience difficulty breathing and develop pneumonia. A coronavirus test is a blood test that looks for the presence of antibodies in the blood. Antibodies are immune system proteins that help the body fight off viruses and other infections. If you have been infected with the coronavirus, antibodies will be present in your blood. A coronavirus test is an antibody test. A person who has the virus will produce antibodies, but the antibodies won’t be present in the blood for at least 14 days after they have been infected.
What is an antigen test?
Antigen tests are not required for travel to the United States, as long as you have a valid passport and a current visa. An antigen test can check for a number of diseases such as malaria, measles, tuberculosis, chicken pox, and more. Antigen tests are not a replacement for a vaccination, but they are an effective way to check if you have immunity to a disease.
What if I test negative?
There’s no test for the COVID-19, but there are other tests that can be done to screen for it. Antigen tests are used to test for the presence of antibodies. An antigen test is the best option if you’re returning from a country where COVID-19 is spreading. If you test negative, you can proceed with the rest of your travel arrangements without any concerns. If you do test positive, you need to pay careful attention to any symptoms you might have and follow up with a medical professional.