Covid-19 Antigen Test For Travel

A number of countries, including the USA, Germany, France and Italy accept antigen tests. You should check the destination country for their COVID-19 entry requirements. Medwyn’s antigen test has a high level of accuracy and meets the UK’s standards for sensitivity, specificity and viral load.

When choosing a COVID-19 antigen test appointment check carefully how many hours before arrival in the destination country you are required to have a negative test result. It is your responsibility to make sure that your destination accepts this test. If you need guidance, the UK government travel advice website provides detailed country entry requirement information at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

Yes, wherever you are travelling from, all passengers entering the UK are required to take a COVID-19 test in the 3 days before departure. You must have proof of a negative COVID-19 test to travel to England from abroad. Children aged under 11 do not need to test. Results and certificates are emailed in 1 hour.

For individuals travelling during the COVID-19 pandemic remove the hassle and inconvenience of finding a testing provider abroad by taking a test kit away with you. 

Medwyn only uses the Flowflex Antigen test that meets UK Government Border Entry performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.

The PCR test detects the genetic material in the COVID-19 virus called RNA. When the swab sample reaches the lab, a solution known as a ‘reagent’ is added. If there is virus present this reagent starts a ‘chain reaction’ and creates billions of copies of the genetic material in the virus so that there is enough that it can be detected and analysed by scientists to provide a positive result. This test is also known as an RNA, genetic, molecular, viral detection or swab test.

A Rapid Antigen test looks for the presence of specific proteins called antigens based on the surface of the virus from a nose or throat  swab sample and is not as sensitive as the PCR test in detecting COVID-19.

You should always check the testing entry requirements for the country you are visiting before you book an antigen test to check the results will be valid. 

The Rapid Antigen (lateral flow) Test is much quicker in delivering results than a PCR test. Your results will be ready within 15-20 minutes after your swab sample has been applied to the device. 

Your Fit to Fly Certificate is provided at the same time you attend a clinic appointment or emailed to your preferred email account approximately 2 hours after your remote video test.

Once you have purchased your antigen test kit you will be be asked to book a date and time for your remote antigen test. The weblink for your appointment will allow you to securely log in for to your video consultation from your mobile device or laptop. You will be sent an email and SMS reminder before the appointment so you don’t forget.

At the test appointment your identity will be confirmed. Your swab test will be supervised by one of our professional healthcare advisors and your test results should be available after approximately 15 minutes. You will be asked to submit photo evidence of your test result online so your certificate can be issued from Medwyn OH by email and you may then travel overseas.

If your test result is inconclusive this indicates you ‘may’ be infected with coronavirus, or the antigen test was unable to confirm a definite negative or positive result. In this situation it is advised to repeat your test with a further sampling kit. If the result is still is still inconclusive you should be tested with a molecular PCR test to exclude coronavirus.

If you test result is positive there is a high probability you are infected with COVID-19. You will not be able to travel without a negative molecular PCR test which is considered the ‘gold standard’ for identifying SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). You should contact a healthcare provider in your local destination to organise testing. If you are in the UK contact NHS 119.