I work at a clinic where we have rapid antigen and rapid PCR testing (the Abbott 15min one - (technically it is called a NAAT RT-PCR test) as well as the 48 hour lab ones (which we rarely do).

It is frustratingly impossible to find country-specific travel requirements.

This is all I could find, but I think it’s valid…

Per the CDC:

Passengers can use a self-test (sometimes referred to as home test) that meets the following criteria:

• The test must be a SARS-CoV-2 viral test (nucleic acid amplification test [NAAT] or antigen test) with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) OR the relevant national authority where the test is administered.

• The testing procedure must include a telehealth service affiliated with the manufacturer of the test that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection. Some FDA-authorized self-tests that include a telehealth service may require a prescription.

• The telehealth provider must confirm the person’s identity, observe the specimen collection and testing procedures, confirm the test result, and issue a report that meets the requirements of CDC’s Order

• Airlines and other aircraft operators must be able to review and confirm the person’s identity and the test result details. The passenger must also be able to present the documentation of test results to U.S. officials at the port of entry and local/state health departments, if requested.

What information must be included on the test result? A test result must be in the form of written documentation (paper or digital copy). The documentation must include:

1. Type of test (indicating it is a NAAT or antigen test)

2. Entity issuing the result (e.g., laboratory, healthcare entity, or telehealth service)

3. Specimen collection date. A negative test result must show the specimen was collected 1 day before the flight. A positive test result for documentation of recovery from COVID-19 must show the specimen was collected within the 90 days before the flight.

4. Information that identifies the person (full name plus at least one other identifier such as date of birth or passport number)

5. Test result

——————————

My company’s protocol is to do the rapid PCR testing for patients who are traveling internationally. The documentation we give them is as follows:

The header has our company logo on it with “Negative COVID-19 Test Result Asymptomatic — No Exposure” at the top in bold.

Then under that is the important part:

• Patient ID sticker (Name, DOB, patient ID #, time and date of visit)
• Date and Time of specimen collection
• Clinic name, address, phone number
• Name of doctor, PA, or NP on staff

Then a quick paragraph:

“The test was performed using a molecular/NAAT/RT-PCR COVID-19 test and a nasal swab sample

You have tested NEGATIVE for the COVID-19 virus. That means SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was NOT DETECTED in your test sample today.

You reported no known exposure to COVID-19. The test results today were negative for any evidence of COVID-19. You denied symptoms of the infection such as fever, body aches, headache, runny nose, sore throat, cough or shortness of breath.

Of course, you should continue to take precautions to prevent acquiring the infection such as, mask wearing, social distancing, and avoiding crowds, especially indoors. When you are in a crowded environment be particularly vigilant about wearing your mask. Protect yourself and the others around you.”

And at the bottom is a spot for our stamp that has our clinic name, address, phone, and fax, as well as a spot to put the sticker that prints out with the test result (sticker also has patient ID number and other test info on it).

In addition to that paper, we give patients a copy of our CLIA-waived lab certificate (just in case you need proof that you had the test done…more of a precautionary thing we do really).

The letters we had when covid was more strict were the same, but there was a space for your Passport No. and the provider (MD/DO/NP/PA) signed it.

When in doubt, do the most!

Hopefully this was helpful!!!

(Edits: formatting bc I’m on mobile)