TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin New Test!

This may be the game changer we have been waiting for! https://www.nbcnews.com/health/heal...igen-test-granted-authorization-n1238409

Saw that...now we just have to get it accepted in places we want to travel to. That WOULD be a game changer

"Antigen tests are cheaper and faster than molecular diagnostic tests but somewhat more likely to fail to identify positive cases of the virus than lab-based diagnostic tests."
Acuracy is the question.

Thanks-could be good news. Trying to find out what type of test they are performing at Princess Juliana airport?

Not quite as inexpensive and portable but I was happy to find we have a local health care provider using this test
Quidel Lateral Flow Rapid Test
on a drive-through basis providing results in 15 minutes. They charge $75 but they have to recoup their investment in the machine so I don't feel it's exorbitant.

This also uses the lateral flow technology.

One of the keys will be what tests will the island(s) want to see from arriving tourists? It would be nice if they would get together and agree . . . OK, I will stop dreaming now!

They are not performing any test at Princess Juliana Airport unless you arrive with a fever. You MUST arrive with your own test results within 72 hours of arrival.

When and how did you learn this? Last I saw they had tested over 700 people at the airport since they opened to US travelers on August 1.

And many of those tests administered for lack of proper paperwork, improper tests or just because they can. I have not seen any mention of a fever associated with airport testing at all. I think the poster indicating they are not testing unless one arrives with a fever is mistaken.

Like to see proof of that. They are checking if you have inproper or out of daye results. Fact check please?

Correct...testing is repeated on those with tests results (type) that do not meet their requirements.

this new test, if acceptable at sxm, would be a game changer for travelers to this island and would more than likely change tourists thinking of delaying/cancelling their visit, and be financially beneficial to business' on the island....just saying

Absolutely.....but a big IF

Vacagirl--sorry, incorrect. It is now listed on the 'official' SXM page, that those who arrive with the wrong test (which I guess includes one out of date) will be tested at the airport in SXM. It is very possible that if you have a fever that they will test you at Juliana, as that makes sense. But that is NOT the only situation in which people are tested there.

That seems to indicate that they will send you the approval to travel, even if the test you have isn't to their liking. That has been my biggest concern up until now, that our test wouldn't be approved by them, and we'd be at the airport and not permitted to fly.

Yes, that is a BIG change. While the parameters aren't at all clear, it appears that if you don't take ANY test at all, they won't let you fly, but if you make a good faith attempt, you will still have to get tested and quarantined on SXM, but you will be able to go. The other question is how long it takes to get the results of the test back in SXM. One newspaper article said some people were waiting four DAYS, but I have seen very little posted about how long people are waiting.

I saw a couple of first hand posts that said they got their results in one or two days.

I know someone posted here they got theirs the next morning after they arrived.

Carol, where on the official page did you see that they'll retest if your test is out of date? I'm still seeing the same requirements that out of date tests won't be accepted and that you won't get the approval to fly.

I printed the travel requirements and it said:

A rt-PCR test for the SARS-COV-2 virus obtained from a naso-pharyngeal swab only and performed within 72 hours prior to departure to Sint Maarten (last leg in case of connecting flights) is required for all travelers originating from a country that is categorized as high or moderate risk. Other tests such as antibody tests or antigen tests and tests performed outside of this 72 hours period will not be accepted.

It states 72 hours from Departure, not arrival; has something changed?

"It states 72 hours from Departure, not arrival; has something changed?"
Been that way for a few weeks now.

It's always been departure, if I recall correctly. 72 hours from arrival would be even more impossible!

Another artice abouit this test.
https://komonews.com/news/coronavir...-X_lwfMjVFE27Oj0QtXGijjjhqgriYKomx_ELeys

Sorry, it's on the Tourism Bureau page. Link

It says "Incorrect type of tests are subject to retesting on site at the airport (US $125). " Since there have been something like 700 people tested at the airport, it appears they are following what it says on the Tourism Bureau page, not what the "official" page says. It would be REALLY nice if they would make consistent statements and keep to them. I ASSUME, without knowing, that a test taken too early qualifies as an "incorrect type of test".

The official page is much more detailed, and one would assume it would list the official requirements. But as you say, they've tested hundreds of people at the airport, so who really knows? They really do need to get their act together before high season, or they'll have no season at all.

While I would not bet MY vacation on it, my feeling is that the information on the official page is what is required, in order to not have to get re-tested on SXM. The tourism webpage shows what you can 'get away with' in order to get on island, get re-tested, and quarantine until the test results come back. GaryB posted his story here regarding not having the exact right test, getting on island, then clearing quarantine. I think that is what happened with Lesley's client also. So that is apparently what is happening, in reality.

As I said, I wouldn't bet MY vacation on that..

So let me see if I got this right.....to FLY you need a negative test report...any test... so go with the quick one IF you are reasonably sure you wan't get your results before you fly your last leg (no hope for my Sunday trip). SXM will not like the quick test and will retest you. IF you only do the RT-PCR and don't get the results back you may not be able to fly to SXM....not worth the risk so just suck it up and assume you will be tested again in SXM.

Correct?

All bets are off if SXM decides to accept the quick test and life will be MUCH easier

That's the way I see it.

boucharda--Perhaps. Unless they change the rules again. It's not worth it to me, to take that risk, but others may feel differently.

I was in your ballpark but what is the risk if you just assume you will pay for another test on arrival? Especially if the five buck tests are rolled out

I honestly have no idea what type of tests they will accept to just get you on the plane. The risks that I can think of offhand are that (1) they will change the rules AGAIN and if you don't have a test falling exactly within their parameters, you will not be able to fly; (2) once you are quarantined upon arrival, there were reports in the Daily Herald of people waiting FOUR DAYS for the results of their test taken on island. Can't imagine spending 4 days of my vacation in quarantine (3) of course, the risk of a positive test (OR a false positive test) while on island.

BTW....I checked Delta and I could find no requirement for testing before travel

AA says negative test taken 72 hours before departure (SXM requirements not AA)