Our experience with using Binax COVID 19 AG home test
 

We just returned from a month long trip to Switzerland.

Because a negative COVID test is needed prior to returning to the US, and because Switzerland charges 195 francs for a PCR test and 80 francs for a rapid antigen test, we opted to order a six pack of the Abbot BinaxNow Covid 19 AG card home tests that are proctored online and take them with us - $150 for a six pack plus shipping - we plan to use the other tests when we travel to Europe again in late November.

We didn't take the tests until the day prior to our flight, and while there was some faffing about on our part trying to figure how it all worked (we'd downloaded the Navica app before leaving the US), once we got our act together, the process was very smooth.

We had to take the tests separately, which involved logging in twice from two different devices, but we were both connected to a proctor within minutes (we signed in around 9 am in Switzerland). We followed the instructions given to us by the proctor, kept the line open for 15 minutes and voilà, we were done. Our negative tests appeared on the Navica app within minutes and we were also sent results via email.

At the Zurich airport we showed the negative results when we checked in for our flight and we were good to go. We also provided our printed attestation forms that are supposedly required by the US, but no one seemed interested in those.

This, and digitally submitting our passenger locator forms to both United (first leg of our trip, domestic) and Swiss (international portion) made checking in for our flights quick and stress free.

We also obtained the Swiss COVID certificate from a pharmacy in Zurich upon our arrival (30 chf each). We provided our double jab certificates plus passports; they provided a paper QR code which we then transferred to our phones. The Swiss COVID certificate enabled us to dine inside restaurants and museums, etc.

And, the best bit, the Swiss COVID certificate is also recognized in the EU in lieu of the EU Digital COVID Certificate, so we'll be able to use it again when we visit Italy, Germany and Austria in late November, December.

Thank you. This is very helpful as I plan my December trip.

Did you take your hard copy CDC card with you or just a digital copy?

We downloaded PDFs of our CDC cards and passports onto our laptop. We also had a copy (photo) of our CDC cards on our phones. Our state doesn't provide digital copies with a QR code, but perhaps some states do?

We also had our paper CDC cards which we had on our persons and I'd made a copy of those.

We showed our paper CDC cards at the pharmacy in Zurich where we obtained our Swiss COVID certificate upon arrival. That was the only time we showed them to anybody, with the exception of at check in at the Chicago airport on departure, and we just volunteered them, we weren't asked. We'd already uploaded our CDC cards to United and Swiss along with the required Passenger Locator Forms.

Glad it worked out for you. As you know, we did this in Iceland in August and it worked like charm. Five of us traveling together and we were able to just get it done one morning in our hotel room, so not inconvenience in our itinerary.

mms - we have four tests left and called last week to check the expiration date as the boxes seemed to indicate they expired late October. We provided all the numbers on the box and were told the expiration date is Jan 1, just days before we return from Europe, so we could well have two left that we cannot use, but we liked the idea of having a spare just in case.

Note to others - if you need to contact Binax/Emed for questions about the tests before you take them - call them. My two emails were never answered.

This is great info, thanks for posting. Question: what do you mean by "digitally submitting our passenger locator forms" ?

We completed the Passenger Locator Forms required by the Federal Office of Public Health in Switzerland and submitted them via their website. They in turn, gave us a QR code, which we uploaded to both United and Swiss.

Bookmarking, fellow traveler, thanks for the info!

Thank you for the great information. Do you just scan the QR code on the test box to start a telehealth session? That's the part I am confused about. We have purchased three Abbott Binax tests for our upcoming trip to Spain.

I don't remember doing that, but I just opened the NAVICA app, pressed I Have A Test, and sure enough, that's what it says to do. (Granted, my head is like a sieve).

Don't open the box until a proctor instructs you to. He/She will ask you to show him/her the codes on the box at the beginning and then guide you through step-by-step from there.

I just bought several. Our DIL is a winemaker in Napa, and they’re joining us over the Thanksgiving weekend. She has a co-worker who got Covid and lost her senses of smell and taste, which is disastrous for that position. So I bought the tests and we’ll all try them tomorrow. Good practice! In both senses of the word - health practice, and repetition. 👍🤞🤪

I read somewhere that you need to make sure the Binax package says it can connect to Navica app. Many of those sold in drug stores do NOT qualify. Just looked at those I got here locally, and they don’t…will use them here instead.

Bookmarking

There are two Binax tests - the self-administered and the self-administered AND proctored.

The Binax NOW self-test is not proctored.

BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag CARD is.