Experience of testing positive at port

[FigmentSpark]

There is a bit of confusion in this thread about the types of tests. See if I can help clarify.

There are two major types of tests in travel and at pharmacies right now: NAAT and antigen. NAATs are more accurate, anitgens are faster.

NAAT

NAATs are the amplification tests, which take your nasal or throat sample and first amplify its contents. PCR/RT-PCR is the most common NAAT technique, where your sample is sent to a lab and the lab equipment amplifies (= magnifies) and sequences its genetic content. The amplification makes it a super accurate test. It's very easy to find any virus trace, particularly when the major symptoms are yet to appear and you intercept them early - but also when you are well past them. Results in a day or two.

In a rapid PCR, the amplification and sequencing lab is installed onsite. Inspire, for example, has these labs for Disney at the ports. Results in 45 minutes or so.

Abbott also launched something called the ID NOW test last year. This is a NAAT where the amplification is done by an onsite machine (vs an onsite lab). Not the same level of amplification, but still better than antigen testing. Results in about 90 minutes.

There are other amplification techniques - such as RT-LAMP - which are primarily sold through the home kits.

Antigen

Antigen tests don't quite amplify the contents of your sample, so you need to test within the right window of time. Best to do antigen testing twice spaced out by about 30 hours, as there is less chance of two such consecutive results being inaccurate. The test is super easy to administer since there is no need for lab amplification or sequencing. The onsite machine (for instance, Abbott's BINAX NOW) is all you need. Results in 15 minutes.

Accuracy vs Timing

Accuracy/Sensitivity: Lab PCR > Rapid PCR > ID NOW > Antigen
Speed: Antigen > Rapid PCR/ID NOW > Lab PCR

Walgreens vs CVS

CVS only offers lab PCR and antigen testing, but some locations can do rapid PCR.

Walgreen can do all four- though rapid PCR and ID NOW aren't available everywhere. The ID NOW test is also very popular, and appointments are scooped up moments after release.

Hope this helps!

More: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/naats.html

Thanks for the explanation.

By the way, do you know if someone just had their Pfizer booster on Friday, will that affect their PCR test on Sunday?

 

[mevelandry]

I thought back and forth about whether I wanted to post this but felt that in my initial question on this forum about COVID testing, it was hard to find info on what it would be like to test positive at port on this forum. I ultimately decided to write down this whole experience so people can assess whether or not it’s worth going through with their families.

We were supposed to board the Fantasy this last Saturday (2/12). All vaccinated and over 5, we were completely asymptomatic. When we got to port, we were directed to the testing tents. There is a tent that you walk through to get your test kits, where they will scan your reservation number and complete the swabbing process. Overall it was a fairly quick process. After that they scan you again and tell you what tent to wait in. We waited and watched test results come back on the TV, which showed your reservation number and whether you were cleared “terminal” or had an issue with testing “consult”. I think took about 40 min for our reservation number to show “consult.” Then I got a call on my phone saying to stay put and someone would come get us. Initially we had the false hope of maybe testing inconclusive, but when I checked the safe passage website, it said our oldest son had tested positive.

Knowing the awful truth and feeling like our stomachs had dropped, we waited a few minutes for a nice Disney representative to come for us. She was nice. My husband told her that we looked at the app and know the situation. AT this point, my 7 and 9 year old had NO idea what was going on, and happily followed us. We were taken to a trailer with multiple empty rooms (felt very much like a bare tiny hospital room) with a few chairs. We sat down, another Disney rep joined us and a nurse from inspire diagnostics walked in. She spent a very short amount of time with us, but basically said, outloud, that my son had tested positive. Everyone else was negative. But he was positive and so we cannot board the ship. We were handed a paper with his positive test result. My husband asked if he could be retested because he was asymptomatic, and the answer was a firm no. At this point, my oldest especially, exploded in tears. Both kids were very sad, but he understood…after this nurse loudly broadcasted that he was the one that ruined our vacation, and felt that he was at fault. We had prepped our kids for this possibility and understood that this can happen. But nothing could’ve prepared us for how much our hearts hurt seeing our kids like this. All of a sudden, all the preperation, the costumes, the star wars movies, the packed light sabers, the months of masking vigilance, talking up dolphin excursions and the kids club etc - all gone.

We were told that if we got a doctor’s exemption, we could come back within 90 days. I told the Disney rep that there is NO way I am bringing my kids back for another potential experience like this. Even if there’s one exception, one of us could test positive again.

They asked us if we traveled with anyone else and how we got to port etc. We had flown in and stayed at a hotel the night before. They arranged to have a shuttle take us “somewhere” but we had no where to go. So at this point, with crying children, we were left frantically searching for a car rental or hotel room. This process probably took us at least an hour and a half because the cell reception (ATT) was so terrible. We wanted to get OUT of that area. My husband finally asked them for the password for their internet, and after sometime, it was given to us. Seeing the cruise ship, seeing the Disney workers literally clapping for those who passed the test, was just too much to bear. When we finally got a hotel room booked, we walked to the shuttle, past the terminal port where the soft star wars music was playing, to a shuttle van. Our luggage was waiting for us, and the kids suitcases had a little tag saying “2 light sabers.” Not knowing what this meant, the disney cruise representative assumed that they were confiscated and made us wait another 20 minutes to see if they can locate them on the ship. At this point, my husband insisted we leave. $20 dollar light sabers are not worth sitting there in front of the ship.

Anyway, we luckily were able to find a beachside rental and are spending some time next to the ocean and in the warmer weather.

Looking back, the possibility of being turned away at port was theoretically awful. But in our minds, vaccinated/boosted/vigilance, the likelihood was so low we didn’t think it could happen. I would never put my children through this experience again so long as they can be turned away, at port, with the ship in plain sight and happy Disney music blasting.

If there’s any advice I can give:

1. Test right before you get on an airplane, changing your vacation at this point will be a lot less painful

2. If for some terrible reason, on the safe passage app it says one of you has tested positive, pull the RN/healthcare worker aside and tell them that you will let your children know. That way, you can control how the message is delivered. We would’ve told our children that one of us were positive and we couldn’t go on the ship. We would’ve never let our 9 year bear that burden of knowing he was positive right then and there. Maybe later once everyone had settled down, he would’ve taken that news a lot better.

3. Decide whether at the end of all this it’s worth it for your families. If we lived in florida, we could’ve just driven home. But this for us was time taken away from school and work and will not in anyway, resemble a vacation we could’ve had. Looking back, it feels silly of us to leave it up to chance that we would be turned away at the last minute.

We were given a letter that we will use to rebook another cruise, but we definitely don’t plan on returning this year.

My heart sanked reading this. I’m SO sorry you had to experience that.

 

[mevelandry]

The downsides of port testing are for those who test positive. But it's a great service to the rest who get on board. There are dozens of stories of outbreaks on Carnival and RCL ships and ensuing quarantines.

Unfortunately, even with testing at the port, DCL guests experience outbreaks and quarantine on board. Just look at the CDC’s page and you will notice that 3/4 ships are coded yellow and orange.

 

[Intr3pid]

Unfortunately, even with testing at the port, DCL guests experience outbreaks and quarantine on board. Just look at the CDC’s page and you will notice that 3/4 ships are coded yellow and orange.

The incidence is much lower. There has been a good amount of discussion about it: https://www.disboards.com/threads/i...quiring-testing-at-port.3870150/post-63741790

 

[Intr3pid]

Thanks for the explanation.

By the way, do you know if someone just had their Pfizer booster on Friday, will that affect their PCR test on Sunday?

The mRNA vaccines don't have inactivated viruses. The only way the vaccine will affect a PCR test is by preventing you from getting the virus. But even that will take a bit of time - about 7 days or so.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Well, we had our pre-travel PCR test done, here at home. We were asked if we wanted the two nostril shallow test or the one nostril deep test. Apparently, the deep test is 2% more accurate. So many decisions. DH had the shallow test, while I had the deep test. It was nothing for me, but DH has had pollup issues, etc, so he struggles when something has to be shoved up his airway.

Anyone know if the DCL tests are "deep" or "shallow" tests? Just want to prepare DH for it.

 

[PinkPixel]

So sorry to hear this happened. I wonder if it's possible that the PCR picked up an infection he previously had, especially if he was negative on a rapid test, he wouldn't be considered infectious is my understanding and you could go to Kennedy Space Center or Galaxy's Edge to enjoy Star Wars. Disney should require both 2 day advance and day of testing so people don't end up in this situation if a PCR would have caught this preventing heartbreak and customer service issues.

 

[Akck]

Well, we had our pre-travel PCR test done, here at home. We were asked if we wanted the two nostril shallow test or the one nostril deep test. Apparently, the deep test is 2% more accurate. So many decisions. DH had the shallow test, while I had the deep test. It was nothing for me, but DH has had pollup issues, etc, so he struggles when something has to be shoved up his airway.

Anyone know if the DCL tests are "deep" or "shallow" tests? Just want to prepare DH for it.

The test we did at port was a self-administered shallow test. About 10 turns in each nostril.

 

[Kwami]

The test we did at port was a self-administered shallow test. About 10 turns in each nostril.

Indeed. I've had a self-administered shallow test for all three cruises since the restart. The only time I ever had a deep test was when my Super Evil Doctor did one in December for non-cruise reasons. Evil!

 

[exnihilio13]

Thanks so much for sharing OP. I think it's really kind of you to share the honest perspective so folks can think through what pre-emptive measures they can do as well as backup plans in case someone does come back positive. I'm really hoping for things to clear up faster so your gang has a chance to use that voucher and your son gets his true holiday.

I've also heard of some people trying to semi self-isolate prior to holidays just to mitigate chances as much as possible. Not so much from school necessarily since there's so many protocols in place (both our kids schools seem to be going very well in terms of few if any cases...knock wood) but maybe from going to friends houses or having friends over, going shopping, eating at restaurants, etc.
Definitely makes me re-think approaches leading up to a potential cruise since we'd be flying in from Canada.
We bailed on our early April cruise back in January since things still seemed a little hairy but I'm eyeing late April since things seem to be trending much better now (at least in Canada).

 

[tom ferguson]

Thank you for sharing what was a sad experience.
I hope your 9-year-old guy is feeling better about himself. It's a disease, and not his fault at all.
Please accept my best wishes for your future vacationing!

 

[cgdmom]

For those who are saying the nurse behaved badly in telling the child they were the one who tested positive, I'm interested to know, is it medically ethical to do what OP is suggesting and let the parent lie to the child and say it was a parent who tested positive and not the child? I would have assumed that nurses would be obligated to give that information to the child (1) because at 9 years old, a child is old enough to understand and have a right know their medical diagnosis, and (2) so that the child knows to take appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. But I'm not in a medical field so genuinely curious to know what the answer is.

I'm pretty sure it is up to the PARENTS to take care of their children any way they see fit…i would do the same… tell the family I tested positive…now we are ALL in quarantine…the child doesn't need to know. And the world at large is safe fro all of us…...

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm pretty sure it is up to the PARENTS to take care of their children any way they see fit…i would do the same… tell the family I tested positive…now we are ALL in quarantine…the child doesn't need to know. And the world at large is safe fro all of us…...

I would find it irresponsible to not tell my own child they have a virus, one of which comes with specific protocols, one of which can impact their schooling, their future interactions with people, testing protocols, masking guidance and medical history, etc. What if the child goes back to school tests due to whatever protocol and turns up positive (as some people do for a while after the virus has stopped being contagious)? Or they go to some other venue that requires testing and they still are positive? Or booster guidance (depending on age)? Explaining at that point that oh no honey it was actually that you were positive back in FL but we hid that information from you, etc. What if something happens and they need to go to the hospital (be it symptoms of the virus or unrelated to the virus)?

In the moment is a gray area, but to actively lie (saying it was you) and then not ever tell them is quite another thing. The decision seems to stem from trying to avoid the child feeling guilty but when it comes to medical stuff there are better (and safer and more ethical and more responsible) ways to soften the blow of what a positive result means. Obviously YMMV here.

 

[NurseDave]

We're in the same boat as some of you. We were positive on the beginning of Jan. Didn't plan to take a cruise and just reserved one at the end of March. I was thinking great, we're still within our 90 days so don't have to worry about testing. But nope. We only had done a home rapid test. Had no reason at the time for an official PCR test. We went and got tested yesterday thinking if we're positive there's still time to "recover" and get the doctor's letter. We were both negative. Now I just worry about testing positive at the port until then.

 

[cgdmom]

I would find it irresponsible to not tell my own child they have a virus, one of which comes with specific protocols, one of which can impact their schooling, their future interactions with people, testing protocols, masking guidance and medical history, etc. What if the child goes back to school tests due to whatever protocol and turns up positive (as some people do for a while after the virus has stopped being contagious)? Or they go to some other venue that requires testing and they still are positive? Or booster guidance (depending on age)? Explaining at that point that oh no honey it was actually that you were positive back in FL but we hid that information from you, etc. What if something happens and they need to go to the hospital (be it symptoms of the virus or unrelated to the virus)?

In the moment is a gray area, but to actively lie (saying it was you) and then not ever tell them is quite another thing. The decision seems to stem from trying to avoid the child feeling guilty but when it comes to medical stuff there are better (and safer and more ethical and more responsible) ways to soften the blow of what a positive result means. Obviously YMMV here.

It is the parents decision only- the parent is the one that knows what is best for THEIR child. It was not up to the nurse to decide how the child found out about the Covid status of the family. The parents can tell the child whatever they want and manage it however they need to… They are in charge of their kit… The end. Obviously the mom is not a monster and will make things right in a Covid world… But quite frankly her responsibility is to her child first and not how her child’s Covid could possibly impact somebody in six months. I think we all need to sit back and take a breath and think about with this testing at the port is really doing to the kids. As adults were saying oh yes we’re preparing them… And teaching them about disappointment. I think testing children at the port while they have their light sabers and their Mickey Mouse stuffed animals in hand while wearing a princess costume and denying them entrance on a ship is barbaric. If the grown-ups… Who are the ones in the most danger of covid are vaccinated… And the kids have been tested three days before… Why are we doing this? If people are afraid of catching Covid they should definitely wear a mask… They could wear a mask the whole time if that makes them feel better. But the stories that I have read on this very discussion board about how families have been treated once they are found positive is heartbreaking. And to me it doesn’t make sense just to test these kids when they’ve already been tested just to catch one or two more cases. I think our kids have been through enough

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It is the parents decision only- the parent is the one that knows what is best for THEIR child. It was not up to the nurse to decide how the child found out about the Covid status of the family. The parents can tell the child whatever they want and manage it however they need to… They are in charge of their kit… The end. Obviously the mom is not a monster and will make things right in a Covid world… But quite frankly her responsibility is to her child first and not how her child’s Covid could possibly impact somebody in six months. I think we all need to sit back and take a breath and think about with this testing at the port is really doing to the kids. As adults were saying oh yes we’re preparing them… And teaching them about disappointment. I think testing children at the port while they have their light sabers and their Mickey Mouse stuffed animals in hand while wearing a princess costume and denying them entrance on a ship is barbaric. If the grown-ups… Who are the ones in the most danger of covid are vaccinated… And the kids have been tested three days before… Why are we doing this? If people are afraid of catching Covid they should definitely wear a mask… They could wear a mask the whole time if that makes them feel better. But the stories that I have read on this very discussion board about how families have been treated once they are found positive is heartbreaking. And to me it doesn’t make sense just to test these kids when they’ve already been tested just to catch one or two more cases. I think our kids have been through enough

My comment wasn't even about parents decision vs not talking about the nurse. It was about your last part where you said you would tell them it was you positive and the child didn't need to know it was actually them who was positive. I answered as if I was the parent in that situation. A positive result is part of a child's medical history (and there are things that affect them and could affect them into the future due to that positive result), to withhold that is well way more of a big deal than you think especially when it is to avoid what appears to be the largest issue of not wanting the child to feel guilty about a vacation.

Due to covid discussion rules for this Board we really can't go into most of your comment.

 

[RedHead0186]

I think we all need to sit back and take a breath and think about with this testing at the port is really doing to the kids. As adults were saying oh yes we’re preparing them… And teaching them about disappointment. I think testing children at the port while they have their light sabers and their Mickey Mouse stuffed animals in hand while wearing a princess costume and denying them entrance on a ship is barbaric.

Barbaric?! I think that's a bit much. I'm sure it's horrible to be turned away at port, especially as a kid who may or may not really understand what's going on. But here's the thing: that's a known risk. Everyone who books a DCL cruise knows that they will have to test at port, and there's a less than zero chance someone will test positive and not be able to go. Yeah it still sucks and yes I'm sure in some situations it could have been handled better by staff. But, if a parent is that concerned about how the kids would handle that situation then maybe don't book a cruise right now. Truly, no one is forcing this on kids. And don't even get me started on what's truly barbaric: all of the kids who have lost one (or both) parents due to this pandemic . . .

 

[cgdmom]

Barbaric?! I think that's a bit much. I'm sure it's horrible to be turned away at port, especially as a kid who may or may not really understand what's going on. But here's the thing: that's a known risk. Everyone who books a DCL cruise knows that they will have to test at port, and there's a less than zero chance someone will test positive and not be able to go. Yeah it still sucks and yes I'm sure in some situations it could have been handled better by staff. But, if a parent is that concerned about how the kids would handle that situation then maybe don't book a cruise right now. Truly, no one is forcing this on kids. And don't even get me started on what's truly barbaric: all of the kids who have lost one (or both) parents due to this pandemic . . .

Less than zero chance????? Seriously? Also NO chance at a re test option (because false positives NEVER ever happen?) Um - I find it truly hilarious how ok so many here are with the idea of testing positive at the port…..no big deal etc. Just what is expected in our exciting world. I wonder how everyone would really react when it is your kid crying and blaming himself for ruining the first vacation the family has tried to take in two years. I personally find it sad that we can no longer plan our trips with enthusiasm and look forward to them. So many people have been through so much and would like to be able to plan and look forward to things again….including kids. That is why I struggle with test at the port. Especially after hearing how so many disney almost passengers have been treated after their positive test. As a teacher of young children and a mother of 2 I have seen that many kids need some normal, happiness and magic backing in their lives. Just because adults can easily process a big disappointment at the port doesn't mean that the kids will process disappointment easily - They are children and this is not the best "learning a lesson" time. Which is why I said that parents involved in this situation are the only ones who should be given the test info and decide the best way for their family to manage it. Sorry if you didn't like the word barbaric….however our different lived experiences may cause me to use words that you disagree with.

 

[Sykes]

If a family can't handle the possibility of testing positive at port then they shouldn't be cruising right now, especially with Disney. Assuming the kids are old enough to be fully vaccinated then there are lots of other options that allow for testing in advance to remove at least some of the uncertainty. It's a terrible situation and I really feel for the OP, but the OP had ample opportunity to control messaging in this situation then blamed the nurse when the nurse didn't read their mind. The advice at the end of OP's post is sound, but the vilifying of the nurse is ridiculous.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I have a question for those who say to have a back-up plan in case someone tests positive at the port. What back-up plan? If you are positive, you should be quarantined for 5 days.