[Update] Where to Get a COVID-19 PCR Test for Travel: U.S.

As we outlined in our primer on Canada’s new COVID-19 border restrictions, most people who travel to Canada will need to show the results of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel.

This new requirement leads to the obvious question: where can you quickly get a COVID-19 PCR test for travel?

The Points Guy, a Thrifty favorite, recently published a helpful article which identifies locations in major U.S. cities that provide a quick COVID-19 PCR test.

One of the keys to obtaining a PCR test with a fast result is to try to avoid tests that are processed at Quest Diagnostics or Labcorp. Quest and Labcorp process many of the tests across the U.S. As such, they are prone to backlogs and occasional delays.

COVID-19 PCR Testing in New York City

In fall 2020 New York City developed its own Pandemic Response Lab, which processes tests in 24 to 48 hours. In addition, NYC has opened up certain express testing locations where it will process a PCR test in 24 hours. Capacity is limited at its express locations. Testing is free for New Yorkers. We recently had the opportunity to try this out and it was very efficient — a result within 4 hours available online.

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