How To Take A BinaxNow COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test For US Reentry
If you’re like me you’re excited to travel internationally again. You research what’s needed to enter your destination and for reentering the US. That’s where you find out that for almost everyone, a three-day-old maximum Covid test is required for reentering the US, even if you’re a fully vaccinated US citizen (as of publishing this article).
You do further research and find that a rapid Covid test can be relatively expensive. It might be inconvenient based on where you’ll be located on your trip or it might not be available in more remote areas of the country, etc. Fortunately, the BinaxNow COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test might be a good solution for you.
Update 7/27/21: I reached out to eMed to answer some of the questions in the comments for us. You can find the info at the bottom.
This is a guest post by Tim Greer from our MtM Diamond Lounge. He took a trip to Iceland a week or two ago and wanted to share his experience with everyone. Thanks so much for doing this Tim!
Brief Overview Of What Is Needed & How It Works
This article is not a review but more of a sharing of my experience taking the test. There are no referral links for the product nor will the accuracy of the test be addressed.
- You can take the test within three days at your convenience (a Saturday departure allows you to take the test as early as Wednesday).
- A smartphone or computer with a functioning camera and internet access is the only external equipment needed.
- Your result arrives within 20 minutes and the official result is sent to the Navica app (more on that later) as soon as 15 minutes.
This antigen test is mainly intended for reentering the US, it is not a sufficient test for entering a foreign country. You can do your research regarding entry requirements and might find a country that allows this test but I would not use this test for that purpose.
The Process
- You need to order the kits online and receive them via FedEx
- The ones at CVS etc. will not work
- Download the Navica(™) app on your phone and set up an account
- Take the video monitored test
- Guided session
- Preparing the test
- Receive your result and have it download to the Navica(™) app
- Final thoughts
Order the kits online and receive them via FedEx
I ordered the test via a United Airlines link. Multiple airlines have a partnership with Abbott. Here is the direct/nonaffiliated link from Abbott.
You answer a series of questions, I selected the answers related to ‘Returning from an international trip with the test purpose of reentering the US’. The cost was $150 USD for six tests. The kits need to be prescribed by a physician so they will not ship until an Abbott physician prescribes the kits, this happens the same day.
- eMed clarification: The eMed digital health platform facilitates prescribing a test by a healthcare professional.
Your emailed receipt can be used for Flexible Spending Account/Health Savings Account reimbursement. Disclaimer, check with your FSA and HSA guidelines for reimbursement, I reimbursed myself via my HSA account. My kits were sent via FedEx the same day and received the next day.
Download the Navica(™) app on your phone and set up an account
It’s best to perform this step before leaving your home but you certainly can do this while you’re in your international destination. The Navica app is used to provide your test results. The video interaction is performed on the eMed.com site (more on this later).
How To Take The Video Monitored Test
Now it’s time to take the video-monitored test via eMed.com. The screenshots below are based on a smartphone but you can use a laptop or desktop computer.
- Go to eMed.com
- Click ‘Start Test’
- You’ll be prompted to log in to your Navica account
- Complete the questionnaire
- You’ll be prompted to start the ‘Guided Session’
Guided Session
An eMed employee will come online (you will not see this person but he/she will see your camera). Via your camera, eMed will have you…
- Provide/scan the QR code from your Covid test box
- Will view/read your ID (e.g. passport, state-issued drivers license/ID)
- Will monitor all of your movements within the process
Preparing the test
The eMed representative will have you open various items from the box. You will…
- Open the card and lay it on a flat surface
- Place six drops of solution in the small hole
- Stick the swab on the big hole and turn three times
- Place the swab up both nostrils and turn six times
- Place the swab inside the flap with the swab exposed to the large hole
- Close the card
Receive your result and have it download to the Navica(™) app
After closing the card, the eMed representative leaves, and a 15-minute timer starts. At this point, you can step away from your phone or computer. After the 15-minute alarm goes off, you click on a button that allows another eMed representative to appear and go over your result. My result came back within 10 minutes but 20 minutes is allowed. If you’re negative, you should only see a top red line (control). If you’re positive, you’ll see two red lines (control and sample).
The eMed representative will send you an email and your result to the Navica app. The result from the app is the official result used to reenter the US. Immigration at the Newark Airport (EWR) did not ask for my negative Covid result but I had to show my negative result and vaccination card to four different people at Reykjavik Airport prior to receiving my boarding pass.
eMed Question & Answer
Since the box comes with 6 tests can multiple people use them?
You may now order a six-pack test kit at eMed.com for yourself, someone else and for others. When ordering for someone else or others, you must also include the legal name of each individual during the order process to ensure each individual receives their own prescribed test.
An individual must have registered on and downloaded the NAVICA™ app while inside the U.S. and its territories to receive a digital health pass (only issued with a negative test result) unless they are a minor age 17 and under, in which case, all minors aged 17 and under must have a “Managed Account” in the NAVICA™ app where their test result will be available. Remember, you must log in to eMed using your NAVICA™️ app credentials to begin a virtually guided testing session.
Once a testing session has been finalized, an individual will also receive their test result in an eMed Labs Report to their registered email on their account.
To download the NAVICA™️ app to your smartphone or device, and for more information visit HERE.
For the most affordable, quick and convenient purchase of the BinaxNOW™ Home Test,
purchase a six-pack at eMed.com and click Order.
If it is a family do they do them all on the same call in or would they each have to do it individually?
When a family is getting ready to test using the eMed platform, as may be the case for families traveling, each individual must complete their own test during their own testing session with an eMed Certified Guide. For minors aged 17 and under, a parent or guardian may be required to be present during the testing session and help the minor complete the test. You may learn more about rapid antigen testing on eMed by visiting the FAQ site under the Support tab.
How does it work for minors with one phone for results? Are you able to use the same
email for multiple people etc?
The test result for a minor will be sent to the email of the individual adult who has a registeredveMed account and a registered NAVICA™ account, under which the minor is listed as a “Managed Account”. Only with a “Managed Account” will one email be valid to receive the test result for more than one individual. Remember to follow the instructions for setting up a “Managed Account” on the NAVICA™ app to add a minor so they may be eligible to test for COVID-19 using the eMed platform.
For some very detailed instructions go to their FAQ page and select: How Do I Help A Minor Or Child Take A Test.
Final Thoughts
This is a convenient and relatively simple test to take. Depending on where you’re traveling, internationally, other tests can be more expensive, less convenient, and difficult to find.
I took the test on a laptop with an external camera which was awkward, at times, as the eMed representative has to see all of your moves during the process. A smartphone may be easier to navigate.
As stated previously, this antigen test is really meant for reentering the US. There is a possibility to use this test to enter another country but I would research entry requirements as this test probably does not meet the requirements.
Happy international traveling and for a convenient and negative Covid test result.
Thanks again for sharing this info Tim! I know I for one would feel way more at ease going this route vs tracking down a testing site.
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Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Note Emed is selling tests that expire within 1-5 months of when you purchase the tests. They will not warn you of this, and they will not refund their money. They have no new kits to sell. So despite advertising the 12 month expiration date, YOU WON’T RECEIVE THOSE AND THEY WON’T REFUND YOUR MONEY! BUYER BEWARE!
The kits we received in June or July have a sticker indicating an expiration date of 2021-10-03, which probably means October 3. However, a black-and-white sticker on the outside of the cardboard box they came in says “Shelf life extended by 3 months for all BinaxNOW tests inside. Scan or visit http://www.emed.com/FDA”
That link takes you to a letter officially extended the shelf life of the kits.
Note that in addition to eMed, you can buy smaller packs of the proctored tests via Optum. They have a two pack for $69.99 and a three pack for $99.99. If you are traveling solo, this would be cheaper than having to spend $150 on a six pack. If you go the Optum route, only pick between the $69 and $99 options, as the other tests on the site are NOT proctored and do NOT use the smartphone app.
Good info – thanks Derek
I used this for a group of 5 of us who traveled to the UAE. It was very straightforward.
I purchased the pack of 6 for ~$150. Each of us downloaded the Navica app on our phones BEFORE we left the USA (I heard it may be difficult or not able to do so when you aren’t on a US IP address)
Each of us called separately and did the test and got the results instantly on the app and via email. The airport check-in agent was just interested in the PDF which had the results. All in all – well worth it to avoid the hassle of finding a test in a foreign country!
Thanks for sharing JJ – a no brainer for a group for sure.
Do I need to use 1 pack or 2 packs? a little confusing some info I read says it needs another test in 36 hours.
You should only need 1 36 hours before reentry
Does each person need their own phone with the Navica app, or can the app accomodate several travelers? And how would one phone / several travelers work when re-entering the US?
Updated above with a Q & A from their contact person.
Know it may not meet the official reentry requirements, but just wanted to provide a data point that I have traveled with others who have used the CVS kits etc without any issue. Obviously there is risk associated with that, but interested to hear more DP’s
In Iceland it’s ~$55 for an in-person test in Reykjavik. That’s what I’ve seen other travelers returning from there so. I’d rather save $100 and do it this way.
A great option if you don’t have a group for sure.
delta is this one for $50 Ellume COVID-19 Test with Video Observation https://www.azova.com/testing/ellume/
This. Is. Awesome!
It is convenient and easy.
BUT I only used one to come back to the US …. I have no need for the remaining 5 :{
Give the others to friends. We used the box of 6 for different people without any difficulty.
I was told they all ha e to be used by the same person
Mark, We cannot order a kit via the site you linked. It’s more of an informational page.
Do a search for the airline you’re flying back to the US and BINAX NOW. If no results, then check eMed and Binax NOW. Either way should bring you to a page to order the tests.
Probably the best way to do it Joe since each airline has their own setup.