RCL accepts new Air Canada/Switch Health Rapid Antigen test

[JessyCruises]

I just boarded Allure of the Seas.  Air Canada started selling at home Rapid Antigen tests with telehealth this past week through Switch Health and there was a question about whether they would be accepted by RCL. We ordered the tests the day they were announced and got them Wednesday.  It was 2 tests with for $79.99 CAD.  Took them Friday morning.  We had booked a backup at the port in case there was an issue as the site does not say they are FDA approved.  We were able to use these for our flight and with RCL with no issues.

 

 

Edited October 31, 2021 by JessyCruises

[Fouremco]

Great news, thanks for posting.

 

Might I suggest that you edit your post and delete a lot more of the personal information in the photo? Your full name and address would be better excluded for your security IMO.

[JessyCruises]

6 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

Great news, thanks for posting.

 

Might I suggest that you edit your post and delete a lot more of the personal information in the photo? Your full name and address would be better excluded for your security IMO.

Thanks - I had not noticed it was on there!

[Fouremco]

9 minutes ago, JessyCruises said:

Thanks - I had not noticed it was on there!

Glad to help out. Now, go and enjoy your cruise!

[K_e_short]

Thank you for posting. This is very helpful.

 

I am off to the webbsite to guy the antigen test, just in case.

 

I noticed that the type of test listed on your paper is different then what is listed on their website

 

Abbott Panbio.....

 

 

[JessyCruises]

53 minutes ago, K_e_short said:

Thank you for posting. This is very helpful.

 

I am off to the webbsite to guy the antigen test, just in case.

 

I noticed that the type of test listed on your paper is different then what is listed on their website

 

Abbott Panbio.....

 

 

Yes I noticed that too.  This is the one we ordered

[cruzincanuck]

Really glad it worked out.  I bought them too however on the box it says SD Biosensor (from Korea) for the Antigen test and Switch Health did not answer as to whether they were FDA approved  (EUA) when I emailed them.  They just confirmed that they were ok for entry to the US.

 

Enjoy your cruise & have fun 🙂

[tert333]

That is good news that it was accepted.  When I talked to switchhealth, they said they provide either the SD Biosensor or the Abbott Panbio.   I would assume, it depends on the supply.  Both have the same status with the US FDA.

 

 

[Atlantic Girl]

Did you happen to notice the expiry date on the Switch Health Tests? We are going on the Allure on December 30 and want to order tests but are concerned about the expiry dates and don’t want to order too early.

[tert333]

2 hours ago, Atlantic Girl said:

Did you happen to notice the expiry date on the Switch Health Tests? We are going on the Allure on December 30 and want to order tests but are concerned about the expiry dates and don’t want to order too early.

I had called and they said the expiry date for the antigen tests were 2 years out.  The LAMP tests was only 6 months.

[JessyCruises]

4 hours ago, Atlantic Girl said:

Did you happen to notice the expiry date on the Switch Health Tests? We are going on the Allure on December 30 and want to order tests but are concerned about the expiry dates and don’t want to order too early.

the ones we received have an expiry date in 2023.

[Liverpoolfan181]

@JessyCruises Thank you so much for this great update. Do you know if each adult needs to set up their own respective account or spouses can login under one account together?

[JessyCruises]

3 hours ago, Liverpoolfan181 said:

@JessyCruises Thank you so much for this great update. Do you know if each adult needs to set up their own respective account or spouses can login under one account together?

My husband and I were able to do both of our tests under  my one login ID

[WeExplore]

I read that you cannot make an appointment for the antigen test but rather you log in and join a wait list?  Anyone have clarification on this.

 

thanks 

[Djsmrs]

43 minutes ago, WeExplore said:

I read that you cannot make an appointment for the antigen test but rather you log in and join a wait list?  Anyone have clarification on this.

 

thanks 

 Yes - this is 100% true.   I have the tests and was trying to book an appointment, but got in touch with a rep from the company and they said just log in and wait.

[mikenbon]

Is there any way to get confirmation that the SwitchHealth proctored antigen test is acceptable by Carnival Cruiseline? There's no indication on the box to show it has the EUA , that they require. I'd hate to use it and then get turned away at the cruise terminal. 

[JessyCruises]

Just now, mikenbon said:

Is there any way to get confirmation that the SwitchHealth proctored antigen test is acceptable by Carnival Cruiseline? There's no indication on the box to show it has the EUA , that they require. I'd hate to use it and then get turned away at the cruise terminal. 

I used it to get in RCL but sorry I cannot comment if Carnival accepts it

[mikenbon]

1 minute ago, JessyCruises said:

I used it to get in RCL but sorry I cannot comment if Carnival accepts it

Thanks anyway . I have a few weeks to sort this out. 😊

[Fouremco]

15 minutes ago, mikenbon said:

Is there any way to get confirmation that the SwitchHealth proctored antigen test is acceptable by Carnival Cruiseline? There's no indication on the box to show it has the EUA , that they require. I'd hate to use it and then get turned away at the cruise terminal. 

The FDA's list of EUA approved Antigen tests does not include Switch Health's test kit. As Carnival requires FDA approval, you may well be out of luck. Call Celebrity.

[K_e_short]

1 hour ago, Fouremco said:

The FDA's list of EUA approved Antigen tests does not include Switch Health's test kit. As Carnival requires FDA approval, you may well be out of luck. Call Celebrity.

 

So my question is why would the Switch Health antigen test be acceptable to fly into the U.S., but not acceptable to board a cruise ship?

[K_e_short]

I have proof that someone has used the Switch Health Antigen Test to board a Carnival Cruise ship.

 

There is a Book of Faces Canadian Carnival Cruise Line group.

 

 

[Fouremco]

7 minutes ago, K_e_short said:

 

So my question is why would the Switch Health antigen test be acceptable to fly into the U.S., but not acceptable to board a cruise ship?

 

I've no idea. I can only go by what the FDA and Health Canada have authorized.

 

5 minutes ago, K_e_short said:

I have proof that someone has used the Switch Health Antigen Test to board a Carnival Cruise ship.

 

There is a Book of Faces Canadian Carnival Cruise Line group.

 

 

 

Same response. I've no idea why Carnival states that a test must be approved by the FDA, yet on social media someone claims to have used a test that's not received an EUA.

 

 

[broberts]

2 hours ago, Fouremco said:

The FDA's list of EUA approved Antigen tests does not include Switch Health's test kit. As Carnival requires FDA approval, you may well be out of luck. Call Celebrity.

 

According to the Switch Health instructions the kit contains SD Biosensor Standard Q COVID-19 Ag Nasal Test Kit which has FDA emergency use authorization. 

 

I suspect Switch Health is simply remarketing that kit. Perhaps someone can post a picture of the contents of the switch health box.

 

 

[luvinthecruiselife]

1 hour ago, K_e_short said:

 

So my question is why would the Switch Health antigen test be acceptable to fly into the U.S., but not acceptable to board a cruise ship?

We used Switch Antigen to get onto Navigator November 29th and to get onto Symphony December 31st.  No problem either time.  We are leaving Florida on Saturday the 22nd and also have the Switch Health Lamp PCR test which we will be doing Wednesday.

[mikenbon]

Here's the reply I received from SwitchHealth to confirm the test is not FDA approved:

 

Good evening Bonnie,   Thank you for reaching out to us about this inquiry. The Antigen Testing kits meet a 97% specificity and 80% sensitivity at viral loads of 100,000 copies/ml but they are not FDA approved. The SD Biosensor’s Standard Q COVID-19 Ag Nasal Test was authorized by Health Canada on April 21, 2021, for self-testing with oversight by a telehealth professional. If you have anymore questions or concerns please feel free to reach out.   Shannon M.  Customer Resolutions Specialist, Customer Experience T: 1 888-966-6531 contact@SwitchHealth.ca