Antigen replacing PCR means what for Test & Go?

[david_je]

Does anyone know the practical effects of yesterday's announcement that PCR tests will be replaced by antigen starting Dec. 16: Will we still need to do PCR within 72 days of departure to Thailand, or can do antigen? Or does it refer only to the test done after arrival? Would we still need to do Test & Go at hotel? If so, would hotels have to lower the package prices since antigen much cheaper?

I'm wondering if worthwhile to wait till Dec. 16.

Thanks.

[scorecard]

 

The Antigen (rapid) test is on arrival in Thailand, from/after 16 Dec 2021.

 

Before departing for Thailand the passenger must have the full PCR test, conducted in the departure country, time gap swab to boarding not more than 72 hrs for some arrival countries and not more than 48 hrs for some other arrival countries. The swab test and report (in departure country) must be performed by a pathology lab which has an internationally accepted accreditation. Written PCR test report (or on screen) must be formatted according to WHO regulations.

 

For the foreseeable future both tests above will continue.

 

Until 16 Dec, arriving foreigners still need to arrive at Suvarnabhumi (and perhaps other airports), get their 'Thailand Pass' approval document and support documents re-checked/accepted, and go through Thai passport process then met by a vehicle organized by their already paid approved 1 night Test and Go hotel. Then to the hotel and the arrival PCR test. When negative report received arriving foreigner is free to move about without further quarantine etc., to any part of Thailand.

 

On and after 16 Dec it all changes; PCR test on arrival dropped, rapid Antigen test on arrival applies. Where the rapid Antigen test will be performed and how 1 night hotel fits into the story is still a little cloudy, hopefully all clarified soon.

 

[donx]

As my family is booked to arrive December 28, I’m interested in knowing what this change means. From what I’ve read so far, the change from a PCR to an antigen test mostly means the test results should be available almost immediately. Perhaps the Test & Go package price will be reduced, but other than this, I don’t see much difference. My family already planned to stay at the hotel until December 30. They arrive at 00:05 on the 28th and want some time to adjust before traveling down south.

[ubonjoe]

It is still not all clear yet on some points when entering for the test and go.

The pre travel test will still need to be a RT-PCR test. Then on or after arrival the test will be the ATK antigen test. What is not clear is where you do the PTK test. The info states a stay in a AQ or STH++ hotel is not required anymore.

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

The Antigen (rapid) test is on arrival in Thailand, from/after 16 Dec 2021.

That is for the sandboxes. 

For test and go it is December 1st from what I have read.

 

Edit: Went to the new article a little while ago and it now says this.

"** The CCSA initially announced the new measures would be in place from Dec 1st. However, the CCSA has since released an update to say the new measures are from Dec 16th. This post has been updated to reflect the change. "

Edited November 27, 2021 by ubonjoe

[BritTim]

Logically, the change to a rapid antigen test ought to mean the test being done at the airport before you are allowed out. This ought to be possible, but I question whether the Thai authorities have the organisational ability to make it happen. December 16th could end up being quite an adventure for travellers arriving on that day.

[scorecard]

Thanks Joe, ultimately for arrivals at Suvarnabhumi:

 

- Now to 15 Dec - current 'Thailand Pass - 1 night booked hotel including full PCR test.

 

- From 16 Dec - new system, what it's called wait and see. PCR test replaced by rapid Antigen test. Where the Antigren test is conducted and whether booked 1 night hotel needed; wait and see.

[ubonjoe]

5 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Thanks Joe, ultimately for arrivals at Suvarnabhumi:

It should be allowed at any airport that has international arrivals when it starts.

[donx]

29 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

It should be allowed at any airport that has international arrivals when it starts.

So you think, get tested at the airport and wait 15 minutes for the results. If negative, go on your merry way wherever you want to go. If positive, be sent to a hospital until you test negative.

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, donx said:

So you think, get tested at the airport and wait 15 minutes for the results. If negative, go on your merry way wherever you want to go. If positive, be sent to a hospital until you test negative.

I am not sure where it will be done. There is still not enough info yet. But it would make sense for the antigen test to be done at the airport.

My reply was to post that only mentioned Suvarnabhumi airport.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

It should be allowed at any airport that has international arrivals when it starts.

Good point, thanks.

[AsiaCheese]

3 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

That is for the sandboxes. 

For test and go it is December 1st from what I have read.

 

Edit: Went to the new article a little while ago and it now says this.

"** The CCSA initially announced the new measures would be in place from Dec 1st. However, the CCSA has since released an update to say the new measures are from Dec 16th. This post has been updated to reflect the change. "

Nope - antigen test is for Test & Go starting 16th December

[mancub]

Presumably there will be a requirement to "stay at" or at least use an hotel that offers private airport pick up, to fulfil this criteria :

"Furthermore, people arriving as part of the Test & Go scheme will only need to book transportation to their hotel of choice and take an ATK test. "

Unless. of course. Grab have an up-coming arrangement with Thailand Pass.

[KannikaP]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

I am not sure where it will be done. There is still not enough info yet. But it would make sense for the antigen test to be done at the airport.

My reply was to post that only mentioned Suvarnabhumi airport.

Would make more sense for the cabin crew to distribute the antigen test kits an hour or so before landing.    Sense, what is this?   LOL

[scorecard]

19 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Would make more sense for the cabin crew to distribute the antigen test kits an hour or so before landing.    Sense, what is this?   LOL

 

Sure, but it seems to me the gov't should insist that the appropriate agency get their act together to organize an Antigen test for all arrivals and a 5 - 10 minutes wait for a result at the airport. 

 

When the negative result is revealed the whole process is fully completed, no further steps.

 

There's plenty of space at Suvarnabhumi airport to organize a process like this and no doubt hundreds of thousands of plastic chairs are available. They know well in advance the approx. arrival time of each flight then the actual arrival time. They have access to customer details.

 

Most/all of the administration could be handled with basic IT on laptops etc., when the negative result is recorded the system could send an e.mail to the passenger, for ongoing personal proof of their Covid- 19 status on arrival. This could also provide/build a national database and provide data for various types of analysis.

 

Seems to me relying on Antigen (any) tests being done correctly and the results being recorded correctly by multiple hotels/hospitals etc., etc., will ensure mistakes and in some cases no records at all.

 

 

[EVENKEEL]

2 hours ago, donx said:

So you think, get tested at the airport and wait 15 minutes for the results. If negative, go on your merry way wherever you want to go. If positive, be sent to a hospital until you test negative.

Did the antigen APK for daughter, result came in 2 minutes. To do the test on plane before landing would be the best.

[pjmorton]

I'm sure they will want to insure that the sample came from the person they are admitting. This will require direct supervision of the collection process.

[Irate priest]

8 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

Before departing for Thailand the passenger must have the full PCR test, conducted in the departure country, time gap swab to boarding not more than 72 hrs for some arrival countries and not more than 48 hrs for some other arrival countries. 

 

Is the time gap swab to boarding not more than 72 hours or RESULT of swab to boarding not more than 72 hours ?

[ubonjoe]

11 minutes ago, Irate priest said:

Is the time gap swab to boarding not more than 72 hours or RESULT of swab to boarding not more than 72 hours ?

It is 72 hours from the date the result is done.

From the Thailand Pass site.

"Obtain a negative COVID-19 test result (RT-PCR), issued within 72 hours before travelling"

[Irate priest]

6 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

It is 72 hours from the date the result is done.

From the Thailand Pass site.

"Obtain a negative COVID-19 test result (RT-PCR), issued within 72 hours before travelling"

Thank you it would be too tight a window otherwise especially if relying on the postal service

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

Did the antigen APK for daughter, result came in 2 minutes. To do the test on plane before landing would be the best.

 

But might not be easy to get a hundred airlines to agree to conducting this process, creating and lodging test reports etc.

 

Plus I guess every person should be tested using the same tests. Again quite some administration work to continuously send/organize delivery to a hundred or more different departure locations, all within an expiry date, all in perfect order etc.  And who disposes of the finished test materials?

 

Perhaps all of the above means that Thailand would have to pay a fee for doing all of the above on all incoming flights. All creating more admin. work.

 

Perhaps easier to do it in a structured process on arrival at swampy?

 

[EVENKEEL]

3 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

But might not be easy to get a hundred airlines to agree to conducting this process, creating and lodging test reports etc.

 

Plus I guess every person should be tested using the same tests. Again quite some administration work to continuously send/organize delivery to a hundred or more different departure locations, all within an expiry date, all in perfect order etc.  And who disposes of the finished test materials?

 

Perhaps all of the above means that Thailand would have to pay a fee for doing all of the above on all incoming flights. All creating more admin. work.

 

Perhaps easier to do it in a structured process on arrival at swampy?

 

What you say makes sense. I recently flew in through BKK from US and the Thai Pass process was flawless. They had ample people working to keep a full plane of people moving smoothly through the airport. I'm sure they could streamline the covid testing process as well.

[DrJack54]

All these threads re opening up of Thailand and including trips back to home country for visit right through to threads about covid extensions need to have an asterisk added. 

Things could change very quickly.

Even today a state in Oz closed its borders to another state due to covid case of possible new strain from Africa. 

That's not scaremongering. Sadly it's fact.

Things may change in a blink..

[ArcticFox]

Antigen replacing PCR means what for Test & Go?

The savings of a few thousand THB...well, unless they jack the price of an 120 THB Antigen test upwards of 1200 THB.  That's not unheard of and Thai courts have affirmed it's not medical discrimination as rich foreigners can afford to pay 2x to 10x what a Thai pays.

[EricTh]

11 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

 

On and after 16 Dec it all changes; PCR test on arrival dropped, rapid Antigen test on arrival applies. Where the rapid Antigen test will be performed and how 1 night hotel fits into the story is still a little cloudy, hopefully all clarified soon.

 

I've read that the antigen test must be done at the hotel which is ridiculous.

 

Why do we need to pay transport fee to the hotel and get our antigen test at the airport? Why not at the airport?

 

 

[night_rider]

They should do it at the gate as part of the disembarking process. Results by the time you hit the Thailand Pass paper check. Luggage at the carrousel and ready to go. Once you exit swampy and get your first humid breath of air you know you’re free

[daejung]

12 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

It is still not all clear yet on some points when entering for the test and go.

The pre travel test will still need to be a RT-PCR test. Then on or after arrival the test will be the ATK antigen test. What is not clear is where you do the PTK test. The info states a stay in a AQ or STH++ hotel is not required anymore.

They should say what happens If you have been in close contact on the plane with someone tested positive.

[scorecard]

6 hours ago, Irate priest said:

Thank you it would be too tight a window otherwise especially if relying on the postal service

"Postal service".

 

Surely anybody would be expecting their test results by SMS or attached to an e.mail. If a paper copy is needed, print the e.mail attachment.

[Irate priest]

5 hours ago, scorecard said:

"Postal service".

 

Surely anybody would be expecting their test results by SMS or attached to an e.mail. If a paper copy is needed, print the e.mail attachment.

" Postal service "

You can swab yourself and post it off I would expect test results by e.mail 

[Stargeezr]

With any test there is the honesty issue. Will everyone do them selves and not get a 

healthier person to do multiple swabs, and just say that all were honest?

  We all know how some people are in this world.  Sad fact..