Corona tests, which find the virus in the body and thus allow the person to isolate and protect self and those around him or her, have two types that detect current infection and past infection in the broadest perspective. A viral test tells if a person has a current infection. Two types of viral tests can be used: antigen tests and nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs). An antibody test (also known as a serology test) might tell if a person had a past infection. Experts argue that antibody tests should not be used to diagnose a current infection.
So, how can a person find out which COVID test they need? First of all, if you suspect COVID-19, you should have the test in the nearest testing center or hospital, which is usually a PCR test. However, if you do not suspect COVID and you need to be tested for travel, this test should be the one that complies with the regulations of the country you are traveling to. Almost every country has its own regulations and testing preferences for travelers. For example, fully vaccinated air travelers coming to the United States from abroad, including U.S. citizens, are still required to have a negative SARS-CoV-2 viral test result. Countries include new tests in the group of tests they accept upon arrival in the country, as the reliability of the tests is proven. To give an example from one of the most recent developments, according to the latest update announced, Andorra has started to accept SARS-CoV-2 tests such as NAAT, LAMP, RT-PCR and TMA when entering the country.
If you are having trouble finding the test regulations of the country you will be traveling to, the daily regulation updates of FurtherPass are just for you! After choosing the country you will travel to, you can easily access the test requested by the country and even find the closest test center to you from our partner laboratories and get tested.