What To Know About COVID Testing Going Forward – From Amani Travel Health Clinic

As restrictions for COVID-19 loosen up, air travel and some businesses are still taking extra precautions when it comes to looking out for the health of their employees, as well as the general public.

Amani Travel Health Clinic is first and foremost a travel clinic. They offer travel medicine services including consults and travel vaccines like Twinrix- Hepatitis B and Hepatitis A, Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Dukoral , Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis and other routine vaccines.

Now that’s we’re seeing a big travel restart and you finally get to plan that trip you’ve been postponing, it’s important to plan a safe travel. You can start by booking a travel health consultation appointment with Amani Travel Health Clinic which would give you insight on your risk and make assessment on travel vaccines that you may need to prevent you from vaccine preventable diseases. Additionally, it’s good to know you can do COVID-19 testing right at Amani Travel Health Clinic as well.

Amani Travel Health Clinic offers many services, including a Telehealth Antigen test. The cost is $90 and offers same day results. You can do the test via computer, iPad, or by phone. Pick up or order supplies online, then have the certificate sent via email. Call the clinic to book.

PCR testing is the gold standard for testing. It costs $199 and you get your results within 24 to 48 hours with a certificate via email.

Recover Certificates are sometimes required to enter a country. Post COVID recovery, COVID results can continue to be positive for up to approximately 180 days. It is not recommended to have a COVID test for up to three months after your infection. Check the recommendations of the country you are travelling to. The cost is $50 and takes only about 10 minutes.

Businesses may be looking to keep staff and public safe. Amani Travel Health Clinic offers the same testing as above for businesses.

Rapid tests are a good choice for staff with NO symptoms. They can also be used to monitor symptoms. While PCR tests are recommended for staff WITH symptoms. This is because the Rapid test and PCR test look for different things, and PCR testing is more reliable when people are showing symptoms.

Wondering about PCR versus Rapid tests?

PCR tests detect genetic material of the virus, using laboratory results. They’re very accurate when performed by a health care professional. They are the gold standard and are used as a diagnostic tool.

Rapid Antigen tests detect proteins from the virus and are processed on site. They’re accurate, but more likely to give false negatives. If presenting with symptoms, and you receive a Negative Rapid Antigen test, a clinician may suggest you take the Rapid Antigen test again.

As restrictions change for travel and general life, it’s good to keep yourself organized for anything that might pop up. Keep a printed copy of your vaccine passport. Book a travel consultation. Make sure all vaccines are up to date, not just your COVID vaccines. Keep hand sanitizer nearby, as well as the travel pack size of disinfectant wipes. Wondering about masks? If you don’t want to wear a mask all the time, wear it in high-risk settings, such as the mall, the grocery store, or crowded events. And if masks bother you; a behind the head mask clip keeps ears comfy on long travel days.

Amani Travel Health Clinic offers other services as well – including travel medicine consultations, vaccines and travel vaccines. They are also a Designated Yellow Fever Site for Yellow Fever Vaccines. And, for extra convenience, they have Mobile COVID testing at mobile vaccine sites for remote areas around Prince George and the Okanagan Valley.

You can find Amani Travel Health Clinic at locations in Prince George, Fort St. John, Vancouver, and in the Okanagan Valley.

Rapid Antigen home kits and Telehealth kits can be purchased at the clinic now.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 and need a recovery certificate before you can travel, give Amani Travel Health Clinic a call. They can issue a fit-to-travel certificate.

For more information, visit the website at www.amanitravelclinic.ca or phone (236) 331-7939.