TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin PCR test- nasal?

In my area, the PCR test is done by nasal swab, not naso-pharyngeal. Is this a problem?
Unfortunately, I am getting anxious about this entire process!

I've been tested twice. Neither result indicated the method of testing.

In my area it's the same issue. Has anyone just been tested with a nasal swab for the Rt-PCR test that have received negative results that have uploaded their results on the EHAS system and have been approved for entry? And did it list "nasal swab" as the source on the test results?

Method is irrelevant..our tests were rt-pcr and we did the nasal swabs ourselves in a drive through (accepted in the EHAS) . Our original tests for St. Thomas were at the same facility and they did the brain tickler but the result was listed as rt-pcr in both cases

Method is irrelevant? Not according to the EHAS website:

12. The original result of the test must be uploaded as soon as possible as part of the health authorization application procedure in order to be processed. Processing can take up to 12 hours. The test result must clearly specify the name of the laboratory or clinic, full name of test subject, type of test administered, name of antigen test, swab date, source of the swab, result date and the result. Incomplete results, hand written or e-mail statements from doctors will not be accepted.
(emphasis added)

I'm not saying that a test result that lacks "source of swab" will be rejected. I'm merely reporting what the EHAS website states. And, yes, I realize that this is the same website that states that the test must be done within 72 hours, and later states that the time limit is 120 hours ...

My accepted test report said 'Nasal Mid-turbinate Swab'.

We were approved in November with the rt-PCR nasal swab (not pharyngeal).

in december we submitted nasal swab results, not naso-pharyngeal, and were approved for travel

There have been many reported cases of inconsistency, including some using and getting accepted with home tests, although that seems to come to a screeching halt. It is a sad situation and appears a lot depends on the agent that reviews your results initially. I really wonder what the level of training has been with the department reviewing the tests.

I thought I read somewhere that the files that get attached to the application were scanned by a computer system that searches for certain key words, which is why the attachment had to be a pdf and not a picture.

Maybe the source is in the test type on the report...lots of code there. I have been tested four times for travel (two each trip)...my wife the same number. All the reports look like this (name/DOB removed)

Submitted and accepted twice to SXM and STT

Makes sense.