Does anyone know where to take a RT-PCR Covid test in Toronto, Ontario for a reasonable fee?

[gam888]

  

We are sailing on the Adventure of the Seas this July. Although the Bahamas government does not require fully vaccinated travelers to have a negative Covid test to enter into their country. It is a Royal Caribbean's requirement to have a negative RT-PCR test to get on the ship. By chance, does anyone from Toronto, Ontario happen to know where to get this test for a reasonable price? I did some research and it ranges from $175-$200 Canadian per person, including a certificate that we need to show.  So it adds up for both of us. Thank you in advance.

[Sue from Canada]

See the other PCR topics for you answer.

[Russ Lomas]

https://switchhealth.ca/en/travel/pearson-departures/

 

$140 plus tax done right at the Pearson airport and results in 12-24 hours

[MStarzky]

can you just take the rapid antigen test from shoppers drugmart? The CDC website states that any antigen test is fine to enter, so the shoppers drugmart one should be good to go.

Edited July 18, 2021 by MStarzky

[david,Mississauga]

15 hours ago, MStarzky said:

can you just take the rapid antigen test from shoppers drugmart? The CDC website states that any antigen test is fine to enter, so the shoppers drugmart one should be good to go.

 

The test at Shoppers will cost $199 plus provincial tax.

 

https://www1.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/health-and-pharmacy/covid-19/ontario/pharmacies

 

 

 

[MStarzky]

no, its this one

 

https://covid-19.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/testing/antigen-screening

 

The CDC states that antigen test are fine to get in order to travel into the country

 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html

 

What types of SARS-CoV-2 test are acceptable under the Order?

Passengers must be tested with a viral test that could be either an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). Examples of available NAATs for SARS-CoV-2 include but are not restricted to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), transcription-mediated amplification (TMA), nicking enzyme amplification reaction (NEAR), and helicase-dependent amplification (HDA). The test used must be authorized for use by the relevant national authority for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the country where the test is administered. A viral test conducted for U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) personnel, including DOD contractors, dependents, and other U.S. government employees, and tested by a DOD laboratory located in a foreign country also meets the requirements of the Order.

Edited July 19, 2021 by MStarzky

[K_e_short]

Is antigen screening the same as an antigen test?

 

I did read in detail the Shoppers Drug Mart website and I'm confused because they said it's a "rapid antigen screening" but the U.S. documentatio says "antigen test.".

[Magicat]

We had one done in Georgetown for $170.00.  Results in 24 hours.  We did this test to fly to the US on Air Canada because we were not sure which test was going to be accepted.  At Pearson our tests were checked 3 times (before getting to check in, at check in and before security).  And they only accepted printed documentation not electronic so make sure you have them printed.

 

Edited July 19, 2021 by Magicat

[Sue from Canada]

On 7/19/2021 at 9:16 AM, K_e_short said:

Is antigen screening the same as an antigen test?

 

I did read in detail the Shoppers Drug Mart website and I'm confused because they said it's a "rapid antigen screening" but the U.S. documentatio says "antigen test.".

Give Public Health Canada a call (1-833-784-4397).  According to another post a 'Rapid Antigen test" is valid and can be done at Shoppers for $40.00. 

[MStarzky]

yes they are the same.

[hubbards]

Recently I went to the US and needed a PCR test.  I live in Ontario.  Long story short I got a free one from my local health unit.  I did not say it was for travel I said it was because I was worried about the Delta variant.  Well ok.  I got the results in 48 hours or less. I also paid $200 at a travel clinic that guaranteed 24 hours. Yes I did both just in case of a false positive or they lost my test.  None of my Shoppers would do a travel PCR test.  Once again the Government doesn’t make it easy for us to travel even though they have so called relaxed the rules for those  fully vaccinated citizens and permanent residents. 

[MStarzky]

i mean a rapid antigen test is 40 dollars and can be done in almost all shoppers drug marts in ontario.

 

[Fouremco]

17 hours ago, hubbards said:

Recently I went to the US and needed a PCR test.  I live in Ontario.  Long story short I got a free one from my local health unit.  I did not say it was for travel I said it was because I was worried about the Delta variant.  Well ok.  I got the results in 48 hours or less. I also paid $200 at a travel clinic that guaranteed 24 hours. Yes I did both just in case of a false positive or they lost my test.  None of my Shoppers would do a travel PCR test.  Once again the Government doesn’t make it easy for us to travel even though they have so called relaxed the rules for those  fully vaccinated citizens and permanent residents. 

For what purpose did you require the PRC test? If it was to fly to the US, an antigen test would have sufficed, is readily available and is much less expensive?

[hubbards]

I was driving not flying to the US.  The crappy part was that after all my efforts to get tested in Canada, I arrived at the Customs and Border agent showed them my passport and covid test results.  The agent said “what is this?” I said, “it’s my covid test results.” He handed it back to me and said “I don’t need to see this.” I was not happy that the left hand didn’t know what the right hand was doing.

[Cap'nFlapjack]

On 7/12/2021 at 11:02 AM, gam888 said:

  

We are sailing on the Adventure of the Seas this July. Although the Bahamas government does not require fully vaccinated travelers to have a negative Covid test to enter into their country. It is a Royal Caribbean's requirement to have a negative RT-PCR test to get on the ship. By chance, does anyone from Toronto, Ontario happen to know where to get this test for a reasonable price? I did some research and it ranges from $175-$200 Canadian per person, including a certificate that we need to show.  So it adds up for both of us. Thank you in advance.

The waterloo clinic is doing it for 89.00     it's about an hour out from YYZ