TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin ID Now test is a PCR

I just received this e-mail response from EHAS:

Good day Ms Kathleen
Thanks for getting in contact with SXM EHas .
IDNOW COVID-19 rapid diagnostic test (nucleic acid amplification test NAAT. Is a PCR test
Sunny Regards
Diana

So, that gives us some breathing time since the results for this test will be received in less than 24 hours.

Got the ID NOW test done at Walgreens yesterday afternoon. Had results in one hour and 15 minutes. Submitted EHAS application this morning. Will hopefully be in SXM on Saturday.

When you submitted. Did you receive an email EHAS or just regarding the insurance? I never received an email from EHAS stating my application. Was under review. Fourth trip this year and always receive that. Never simple!!!!

What is an ID test?

ID NOW is the brand name of the NAAT test

Oh thank you

Has anyone actually used the ID Now test, received EHAS approval and allowed to enter SXM? Walgreens in our area offer it with results in two hours. Considering it for our July 17th trip.

Same here, we're scheduled to fly out of EWR Sat. 7/17 at 0820. We'll go to Walgreen's Wed., 7/14, but can't make an appt. more than 2 days in advance.

Yes. We used the Walgreen's ID Now test and had no issues. Our approval email came back within 10 minutes of submitting.

From what I have read it does seem as though the ID Now test is an acceptable test. Also, we will be on the island at the same time as you guys. Our (My wife, two kids - 11 and 14, and myself) first time on the island. Is this your guys' first trip? Any tips for us?

I am anxious about making sure we get all of the testing and paperwork done correctly, but can't wait to get there.

We used the ID Now at Walgreens for our May trip. EHAS approval in 20 minutes. Delta agent was unfamiliar with it, so it took 15 mins of here looking at the EHAS docs.

I am a little confused about the ID NOW test. I am reading that it is an over the counter test. Is this correct, or is it administered at the drive-thru at Walgreens? Thank You to anyone who can answer this for me.

When I had mine (back in Dec for Hawaii), it was a drive thru location at Walgreens in Phoenix. They had trailers set up outside to process the test and the results came back online through another party. These were all independent contractors and Walgreens was just the location - did not use Walgreen's employees. Not sure if it is the same all across the country or if anything has changed since then. Worked slick as a whistle!

Thank You so much for that information. Since the timing to get the tests changes in July I was thinking of just cancelling our trip until later in the year or next year. We have to travel to Fort Lauderdale the day before we travel so that pretty much takes another day away from getting tested and uploading to get approval. I was hoping they would allow vaccinated people to come in without the test but it doesn't look as if this will happen before the end of July.

Prariegirl--I think the Walgreen's tests that are sent away work fine UNLESS YOU HAVE YOUR TEST DONE ON THE WEEKEND!! We had our tests done on a Saturday and they didn't even mail them away until Monday evening. Online it said the test results would come back in 2-3 days, AFTER they finally received them. The timing got way too close for us, so we had to go pay $150 each for another test that the results came back in 20 minutes. We paid that money for the tests, got the results back, got our approval back from EHAS, and THEN got the email saying that the test results from Walgreens were back.

Carol--which Walgreens test did you get? From everything I can see/read about the ID NOW doesn't actually get sent away. I certainly could be wrong about that. This change in time is so lame. Everyone who gets on a plane, has been tested and maybe also vaccinated. The threat to the islanders are the islanders who will not get vaccinated--not tourists.

Not to confuse the situation but does anybody know if the Abbott BixaxNOW covid19 AG card home test will work and is it 72 or 48 hour text. That’s the one you administer to yourself via teleconference in front of a lab tech watching. I got a few online about 10 bucks apiece I suppose it would be good to take even went in Sxm to return back to the USA? Supposedly you get results back also within 15 to 30 minutes. Any thoughts ? Thanks

I don't honestly know what type of test we got, but it was sent away, yes.

Our Wahgreen tests were sent to a lab.

At home tests are not acceptable for entry to SXM even with telemed observation.

Walgreens does two different tests and yes, the one takes much longer (sent away to a lab) and the weekend is an issue because it IS sent away. The ID Now test is done on site and results uploaded within 24 hours, but often in only a few hours.

In Phoenix there must be 20 or so Walgreens locations, but only 3 of them had the ID Now test when we did ours.

So MrWhiskerSammy be sure to know which kind of test you are signing up for on their website. It is pretty easy to tell, the locations are even colour coded!

Prairie Girl--Thank You for the info you provided. I have looked at the Walgreens website and now I know which test to sign up for. Quite a few people have said they went to Walgreens and got the ID NOW so I am sure that is the way we go----UNLESS--of course, tests are not needed by the end of July (LOL)

I can’t imagine if you get test results back in 15 minutes an hour two hours even three hours it would’ve had enough time to get to the lab and the results back. Certainly test results in 15 to 30 minutes can’t be going to any lab unless the lab is on site which I doubt in a Walgreens. SXM really needs to get onboard with just taking vaccination certificate for entry and do away with this preapproval crap. So many other countries don’t require the hoops that SXM is still requiring. IMO

We did have to drive about 25 minutes from home for a Walgreens with the ID Now test. We had the results back within a few hours. Once we submitted them to SXM, we had the approval within minutes. We traveled on June 19th.

"vaccination certificate Asian for entry "
Asian????

Certification. Certificate Asian. Bad autocorrect or bad speech to text I guess.

Hahaha. Happens.

The ID Now test is analyzed on-site in special trailers they brought. It is all set up outside in the parking lot.

We can’t re enter the US without a test even if fully vaccinated. The IDNow from Walgreens works perfect. But I agree. If fully vaccinated and you show proof that should be enough to enter and come back!!!! We have the Veritas tests to go back to the US. Two of my party already did them and they work great. 150 for 4 tests from your hotel/condo etc. still I feel unnecessary if fully vaccinated!! Especially with Pfizer or Moderna which they just stated is good for the current variants

Even vaccinated you could still be a carrier and not know it.

I could also come back with the flu and give it to people. I totally get it and not down playing COVID at all. But there must be an easier and less stressful way. Testing me 72 hours before flight is Meaningless. Plus while the EHAS is simple I had a heck of a time this trip!! Took three attempts (and they told me I was approved but I wasn’t getting the emails!!). Unless you isolate until you board a plane what’s the point of testing. With these new tests there should be a way to test at the airport before you get on the plane.

I messaged EHAS. They consider the ID NOW test a PCR Test. I am getting it at Walgreens.

We're scheduled to depart for SXM in a couple of months on a Monday ... just wondering if getting the test 48/72 hours in advance might be an issue with results coming in over a weekend? Does anyone have experience with this? Thank you.

One more Walgreen ID Now question. Do the printed results have the date and time of the test?

Yes. Mine did.