Do-it-yourself Covid testing for travel home to the U.S. just got a bit cheaper.
Originally, the only route to the test, required no more than 72 hours before flying to the U.S., was through e-med.com and the Abbott BinaxNow Home test, and e-med was selling only a pack of six tests for $150. An e-med proctor checked ID, supervised the test and certified the results. Several airlines offered links to the product.
Now the Abbott test is being offered with observation by a different company, Optum, for $50, two for $70 and three for $100. It’s recommended to carry two sets in case of an inconclusive result. And, a second test, by Ellume, has now been approved and is being offered for $50 with supervision by yet another company, Azova.
E-med is now also selling singles through Walgreen’s in the New York and California areas, and by mail for $50 each. And, while e-med originally told potential purchasers that the six-pack could not be shared, their site now allows up to three travelers to be added to the account and to share the tests.
If all this seems like too much, you might try checking about the availability of in-person tests where you’re traveling. Iceland, for instance, has a very efficient testing center in Reykjavik that churns out results in about five hours for €50.
