At the beginning of the pandemic, Covid testing was inefficient, crowded, and, depending on where you went to get tested, inaccurate.

Today, almost two years later, Covid testing is more reliable and accessible than ever.

Throughout the pandemic, Americans across the country have become more familiar with getting Covid tested regularly. But, whether you get tested for an event, work, or the most common this summer, travel, it’s essential to understand that ignoring your symptoms such as allergies or a sinus infection can put others at risk.

Testing for travel is vital not only for your safety but for the safety of everyone around you, as airports, cruises, and planes are regular hotspots for infection.

Finding The Right Covid Test for Your Summer Trip

PCR tests have been proven to be the most accurate of all tests. Often, if you test directly with the lab, same-day or 24-hour results are available. However, due to the high volume of testing, some labs are experiencing delays in results. It’s wise to check with your testing location prior to testing for their test turnaround times to ensure your results will be returned to you in time for your trip.

For those looking for something with faster results than the traditional PCR test, the Rapid COVID-19 RT-PCR Test is a great option. This test can be completed in minutes.

Rapid antigen tests are becoming increasingly more common. In some areas, rapid antigen tests may be deemed acceptable for travel. While these tests are widely available for home use, for the rapid antigen tests to be used for travel purposes, the tests MUST be performed (or proctored) by a CLIA-certified laboratory.

Testing For Travel: How do The Virtually Proctored Tests Work?

At-Home Covid Test had a bad rap when they first became available as inaccurate. However, more often than not, this was primarily due to user error, as to get the most accurate result with any test, it must be administered the right way.

Using your own At-Home Covid-19 test, schedule a 15-minute monitored appointment from anywhere in the world with a certified MyLabsDirect Healthcare Representative. You will be virtually proctored performing an at-home rapid-antigen test (of your choice) to ensure proper administration and validation of results. Your certified results will be sent to your free MyLabsDirect patient dashboard digitally and in printable PDF format within minutes of performing your test. Virtually Proctored Covid Tests are a CDC-approved safe and accurate way to get tested for your summer travels. Not to mention they are surprisingly affordable at only $20.

Testing is now more convenient than ever. If you return from your vacation and have symptoms, get tested. The CDC recommends that fully vaccinated people test for COVID 3-5 days following known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. If you have any questions, concerns, or need testing, we can help. Contact My Labs Direct at 877-355-7978 or visit MyLabsDirect to learn more.