COVID-19 Testing

While the pandemic continues to evolve, many destinations, schools and worksites are slowly reopening. To ensure the number of infections are minimized, many of these locations and organizations are requiring visitors, students and employees to show proof that they do not have COVID-19.

Our primary focus is on individuals needing to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test to fly or return to work or school. We generally do not test anyone with an active infection or anyone who has come in contact with someone suspected of having COVID-19. Anyone with an active infection should call an acute care facility or local health agency.

Read on for more information.

Do you offer PCR testing for travel?

Yes. Passport Health offers RT-PCR testing in many, but not all, of its locations. Please contact the location nearest you to learn more.

Where can I get a COVID-19 test?

Various Passport Health offers viral COVID-19 testing. Be sure to check on your location’s web page to see if testing is available in your area.

How can I schedule my COVID-19 test?

Be sure to check if your local Passport Health is offering COVID-19 testing by checking their page on this site.

If your location is offering testing, appointments can be made by calling the clinic by phone. Many locations are seeing a large number of patients interested in testing, meaning appointment space may be limited.

How do COVID-19 tests work?

As there are two different forms of testing, each works differently.

• Antibody Testing – Typically, an antibody test involves taking an amount of blood from the body and testing that blood for the presence of the antibodies that can develop after an infection has been detected by the body’s immune system. Antibody tests are not used to diagnose COVID-19, but to help identify if someone may have come in contact with the virus and it may have infected them. A positive antibody test may require a viral test to check for active infection.
• Viral Testing – Testing is most often done through either a nasal swab or a saliva sample. These are then analyzed to determine if you have an active COVID-19 infection. Decisions on testing are made on a state or local level. While you may want testing, it is possible it has been restricted to individuals currently showing symptoms or those with other specified factors. See your local Passport Health’s webpage to know if viral COVID-19 testing is being provided by Passport Health in your area.

At this time, we do not know if individuals previously infected with COVID-19 can catch it again. You may be asked by an employer or when travelling to have tests on a regular basis such as before entering and leaving a country or on a monthly or other regular basis.

What should I do if my test comes back positive?

A positive antibody or viral test mean different things, depending on the test which you received:

• Antibody Testing – A positive antibody test means your body has made antibodies to help protect against COVID-19. It may not show if you have a current infection and does not mean you have long term immunity. A positive antibody test may require a viral COVID-19 test to ensure you are not currently sick without showing significant symptoms.
• Viral Testing – A positive viral test often means you have an active case of COVID-19. If you test positive, be sure to follow local quarantine procedures. Do note, many countries and states will deny entry with proof of a positive COVID-19 viral test in the previous 24-72 hours.

If you know or believe you have been exposed to an individual with COVID-19, follow NHS and local guidelines in regard to quarantine. If you have tested positive in a viral COVID-19 test, take protective steps including quarantine and seeking medical help.

What does a negative COVID-19 test mean?

A negative viral or antibody test can mean a few things:

• You were likely not infected at the time your sample was collected.
• It does not mean you cannot or will not get infected.
• Individuals at the very early stages of infection may not show positive on the test, this means it is possible to test negative but still show symptoms even days later.
• If you have had a known exposure to COVID-19 and test negative, it is still prudent to follow NHS and local quarantine guidelines. Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with an infected individual and watch for a fever.

Can I Test Positive for COVID-19 After Receiving a COVID-19 Vaccine?

No, individuals will not test positive on a COVID-19 viral test, like RT-PCR, if they have received the vaccine. Individuals will only test positive for a viral test if they are actively infected with COVID-19.

Vaccines help your body develop an immune response and create antibodies to protect against infection. This means it is possible to test positive after being vaccinated if you receive an antibody test. Antibody tests indicate whether you have developed antibodies to COVID-19 through infection or vaccination. Research is still underway as to the length of time a vaccinated individual can be positive on an antibody test and how it may affect this type of testing in the future.

Currently, the majority of destinations and organizations require an RT-PCR test.

On This Page:
Do you offer PCR testing for travel?
Where can I get a COVID-19 test?
How can I schedule my COVID-19 test?
How do COVID-19 tests work?
What should I do if my test comes back positive?
What does a negative COVID-19 test mean?
Can I Test Positive for COVID-19 After Receiving a COVID-19 Vaccine?