TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Antigen Test for USVI Entry from BVI by Ferry

Anyone heard anything about the BVI offering Antigen test for USVI Entry from BVI by Ferry?
Malone stated the other day that they would start using them for testing incoming passengers.

Its anitbody test..I got mine at CVS in San Francisco and would recommend getting it in the US if you can as its good for four months. Dont know where you can get it in the BVI's..

Two tests with "anti" in the name have been discussed.

The Antibody test (mentioned by Mal) can be taken before your departure and is accepted for up to four months for entry into the USVI by water (taxi, ferry). The antibody test is not accepted for entry into the U.S. by air (which is driven by the CDC requirements).

The Antigen Test, also called Rapid Antigen Test, is now (as of 10 June) apparently accepted by the BVI for the test you do before departure (and enter the results on the portal). It's not clear yet whether the BVI intends to only allow some types of Rapid Antigen tests. Minister Malone's wording contained the word "approved" but there has been no clarification of which tests might be approved vs. not approved. This Rapid Antigen test is also accepted by the USVI for entry by water (taxi, ferry).

My reading of the update to the CDC Order is that a Rapid Antigen test would also (now), as of 7 May, be acceptable for entry to the U.S. by air but it must be supervised. If it is a DIY type of test, this means a video session to observe the process.

Results are usually available for both tests much more quickly than the RT-PCR tests.

Of course, all the rules can change at any moment so keep checking reliable sources.

Roger all but I am wondering if there is any word on the BVI offering them for exit test instead of having to do the rt-pcr test which is the only thing currently available on island. You would think the local clinics would see an opportunity with them...

If you’re traveling via the USVI, the same antibody test that gets you entry from the mainland will also work for reentry from the BVI. Though you will need to do the USVI entry portal again, you can just upload the same antibody test results.

Roger...I have that. I am trying to see if anyone has heard anything about the BVI offering Rapid Test for exiting the BVI.
BTW....Penn's Medical across from TMM offers RT-PCR Testing for exiting the BVI...no wait or appointment.

That's great information! Do you know if they have their own lab or are they sending samples to the government lab?

Do you know how much Penn Medical charges?

They use the same lab but seem to have an in for pushing results thru. Best part I found was no appointment needed....

$80...so $10 more but way more convenient