TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin BinaxNOW Home Test Experience

At the time you actually complete the purchase of the test, you will be asked for the name(s) of the people that will be taking the test. Also, create an individual account for each person being tested in the Navica app.

Is there a link for instructions for how to do this? Michael and I will be arriving (God Willing) on Saturday next week. And we are flying out in two fridays. I'd like to know exactly what I need to do to use this test.
Also, if you have a letter from your doctor saying that you recovered from Covid within the last three months, do we have to test at all?

This should cover everything: https://www.fda.gov/media/144574/download

Thanks but I know how to take the test. What I was hoping for was how to use the test with someone watching to use to get back into the US.

Laptop works best. But you can also use a tablet or smart phone.

The proctoring process should be covered in the instructions. If there’s anything that’s not discussed, I can possibly elaborate based on our experience. Overall, a good deal of guidance is given during the test, both from the proctor and through on-screen instructions and demonstrations.

Just re-reading this very informative post. Is BinaxNow the ONLY home test allowed for US return?

I have no experience with it, but Qured also has a home test for travel.

Qured Link

There are at least 5 rapid antigen test solutions that are proctored and accepted for travel back into the USA. The links below will take you to 2 different articles that will cover these solutions and most likely answer all of your questions. If there is more that you need to know, please just ask. The first article is from 6 Dec 21 and the 2nd article is from 14 Jan 22. There is some overlap in information.


Article 1 - Covering 3 tests

Article 2 - covering 4 tests


Hope this helps.

Much appreciated.

Thank you Tom for the link to the company you used. I now have two tests ordered and on its way for our upcoming trip next month.

Issues have been known to happen. I would have two per person in case of error! I had an issue where I didn’t twirl the swab in the card and it was disqualified!! Had to start over with a new test.

sorry, stupid question.. The reason everyone are choosing these tests over the tests done on the island (some are done directly in the hotels) is because it is cheaper? safer? more accurate? convenient? All o the above?

convenience

Thanks, We booked the Orient Beach hotel and we were told the test is done right in the hotel by certified nurse and the results are ready in an hour. It does not get anymore convenient that that.. and you don't need a laptop or phone with good wifi to have a video call with the official rep.. Am I missing something? These test kits are $69 for two tests. tests in the hotel is $50 per person... $30 difference for two..

I do it for convenience. It’s my own condo so I have a printer and I know my internet is good. We work when there so always have laptop or iPad. I can wake up anytime and get it done. Two trips ago I did it the day we left. Luckily (in an odd way). We all got Omicron for Christmas, so now don’t have to test for 90 days!!

We chose the Binax test for convenience and cost. There were three of us traveling, and we also were staying in an AirBnB. We'd stayed in the same place the year before, so we were pretty confident in the WiFi already. Also, as I mentioned, it was nice to get it out of the way early the morning of our last full day. However, if we'd had the option of someone coming to our apartment to test us, we probably would have considered that if the price was comparable and it worked with our schedule.

Thanks, In our case we will go with what hotel offers. We are not bringing laptop and I heard the wifi in the hotel is not that great. I was more worried that there are other reasons why you want to do your own tests (I heard stories from Mexico that some people got positive results and than were offered to "address" that for undisclosed amount of cash...)..

We are considering it for our next trip because we come home on a Monday, so would need to get tested on Sunday or Monday. I am too anal to get tested on the day of, so we will need to get tested on Sunday. The storefront locations are not open on Sunday. So we will need to either do a home test or get a nurse to come to our place.

Just back from 10 days on Island. Last 7 at Royal Palm. Brought six " kits" with us from home for four people as they worked great for a Florida cruise in December. Issue we had was finding quality Wifi. RP's paid for best package was not good enough to complete twenty minute process. Kept dropping, freezing up....we tried BBB and other local places but no signal was consistent enough to complete the test. Very frustrating. We did not have international Verizon package to test the hot spot ability. Thankfully, there are several start up companies that will come to your room to test if you ask around for 70/80 per test. There was a nurse at swim up bar and a waiter at BBB who do the test for cash and certify with paperwork plus email results. Brought the kits back with us...lol

Yes, that would be my concern, getting good wifi. Royal Palm wifi has historically been pretty bad.

One other comment based on conversations with several other RP vacationers using the "in-house" testing is that there were no "positive" tests....

" (I heard stories from Mexico that some people got positive results and than were offered to "address" that for undisclosed amount of cash...).."
That goes right a;long with the people selling fake CDC Vaccine cards.

I know... And if you are stuck in the foreign country (even if it is a paradise like St Maarten) you do everything possible to get home... And it does not matter that in home there are more positive cases (in US) than anywhere in the world, but this positive result (valid or not) prevent you to get on the plane... I think it is time for US to eliminate testing rule for the flights back to US - or at least for those who are vaccinated. Just my opinion.

" I think it is time for US to eliminate testing rule for the flights back to US - or at least for those who are vaccinated. Just my opinion."
I would agree with that but just for US citizens.

Supposedly, most of the major airlines feel the same way and have contacted politicians about it as it is hindering or stopping some from international travel.

LINK

Great idea and now very appropriate....(removing testing for return requirement)

honestly, Im debating the same vs the binax homeAG. I don't recall wifi at the Royal Islander but not sure where to get the tests near Maho vs take the $150 plunge. Anyone know if Sonesta or RIC have testing sites? Ive sent an email to RIC. Keep y'all posted if I hear anything

Yes to RI having Wi-Fi. And yes to them having testing. I’m not sure the costs but I have read on several pages on FB that they offer testing right there

Thanks. I’ll check Fb now. May just do on-site it not too much more $.

Oh for those who bought from emed, where shipping was $41, how long did it take to arrive by mail?

Shipping was FedEx overnight air for me and it only cost me $16.

So the test must be proctored. The BinaxNow tests which CVS sells do not qualify?

Correct.

One point of clarification for those it may help/enlighten:

If ordering the 6-pack Binax from emed, its for UP to 3 people. (so $50 per person)

I was under the wrong assumption that the 6-pack test would cover a family of 4 with 2 extras just in case.

Given that enlightenment, & the potential hope that the return testing *may* soon go away & that I wouldn't be stuck with a test kit we dont need, Im not bothering with home test.

In response to FatCat04, the captain and others; I contacted Emed customer service, please see response below:

Anel Batista (eMed)

Feb 13, 2022, 12:25 PM EST

Hello,

I'm more than glad to assist you today. Yes, you can share the six pack kit as long as each individual has their own Navica account. I hope this information helps.

Best,

Ross
eMed Customer Support

The fact that the site only allows you to initially associate only three names is somewhat misleading. They do this to encourage you to buy two tests per person, in my opinion.

6 pack is fine for 4 people. You will have two extra in case someone messes up.

We received the same response as CarolinaSailor when we asked about sharing. For us, once free shipping was factored in, it was cheaper to buy two 2-packs from Optum than six from Emed. We only had three people traveling, though. The fourth test was an extra just in case something went wrong.