Antigen now at port?

[mousefan73]

Hello, I am literally on hold with DCL and listening to the blah blah they have at the start. The guy just said " all guests will receive an antigen test at port paid for by Disney"
Was this always like this or did they change it from PCR to antigen??? I will ask when I get a rep too.

 

[randumb0]

Weren't they always antigen? Is there such thing as a rapid pcr?

 

[mousefan73]

Weren't they always antigen? Is there such thing as a rapid pcr?

they were rapid PCR, yes its a thing.

 

[mousefan73]

Rep on phone confirmed its PCR, she doesnt know why the voice recording says that. Darn I hope it got easier.
When asked about Vancouver sailings and testing, she said they are still working on it and depends on what CA requires. Right now US ports status quo

 

[lanejudy]

Without any announcement by DCL, I suspect the phone CM mispoke or maybe doesn't even really know the difference. Look how many people here though "rapid" automatically meant antigen and didn't realize there is such a thing as a rapid PCR. Though it does seem they may need to make some adjustment because their 90-day exemption is causing problems at port stops...

 

[mousefan73]

Without any announcement by DCL, I suspect the phone CM mispoke or maybe doesn't even really know the difference. Look how many people here though "rapid" automatically meant antigen and didn't realize there is such a thing as a rapid PCR. Though it does seem they may need to make some adjustment because their 90-day exemption is causing problems at port stops...

It’s not the phone CM that answers and talks to you that said this. It’s the recording you hear when you first get through. There’s a man as a recording go through the whole Covid spiel. the man says “antigen test

 

[randumb0]

My next question is does it matter which test they are offering?

 

[dreynolds1982]

My next question is does it matter which test they are offering?

PCR tests are extremely sensitive and can detect very small viral loads. That's good for detecting early cases, but it can also detect old cases as well (hence the 90 day exemption). That's not really an issue with antigen, however rapid antigens are more susceptible to false negatives. So pros and cons.

 

[BadPinkTink]

My next question is does it matter which test they are offering?

Yes it does, on a rapid PCR test, people who have had Covid in the last 2 / 3 months and recovered but may not have realized it, will get flagged as positive and will not be able to board.

With a rapid LFT / Antigen test those people will test negative.

 

[woody64]

As of 2/14/22, it was rapid PCR.