Molecular Covid Test in Buffalo?

[scrappinginontario]

Has anyone done a Covid test in Buffalo? We're looking at Walgreens in particular as I believe their tests are free. Has anyone done this in the Buffalo area?

On a side note. Friends were just tested at a Walgreens near Tampa in order to fly home 2 days from now and from the time they were waiting in their car to get tested until their results were emailed to them, was less than 2 hours!!!

 

[Dawg74]

Has anyone done a Covid test in Buffalo? We're looking at Walgreens in particular as I believe their tests are free. Has anyone done this in the Buffalo area?

On a side note. Friends were just tested at a Walgreens near Tampa in order to fly home 2 days from now and from the time they were waiting in their car to get tested until their results were emailed to them, was less than 2 hours!!!

We are planning to do this in Buffalo as well. In October we went to Walgreens on the Florida panhandle and it was fine. Would also love to hear experiences in Buffalo. I have looked and several Walgreens seem to offer it.

 

[Eeyore's the Best]

I looked into booking Walgreens in Buffalo when we come back next Tuesday. You need to get the RAPID ID NOW test that is the one that is good for Canada and it is free. The issue with the Buffalo Walgreens is that every one I could see was very booked up likely with cross border shoppers or short trips. If you book ahead in enough time you should be ok. You can get a PCR at the airport but it's $225 or $160 if you can wait until 3 pm the next day.

Very expensive, but also very convenient. If anyone else knows anywhere else to go in Buffalo for a rapid or relatively quick PCR I would love to hear about it as well. We have decided to test in Florida but if I can find a decent Buffalo option I would rather do that.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thanks so much @Eeyore's the Best. I just booked us for next Wed morning. We're hoping to hop across for some shopping but if it doesn't happen, that's okay too.

We're booked for Disney at the end of Jan but honestly not sure if we'll be going or not. I need to decide by next week though as Thursday is our pay in full date.

 

[Eeyore's the Best]

What location did you end up booking at?

 

[scrappinginontario]

I chose one out towards the airport. It's at 4815 Broadway, Depew, NY. 14 mins from the Buffalo Airport.

Just a heads up that it appears they may only book 1 test every 15 mins. I initially grabbed a 3:00 for myself as it was the only time available, hoping to get a second 3:00 for my daughter but the only time they gave her was the following day so I had to move mine. As of 4:30 last night they were booking for Wed, Dec 29th.

 

[damo]

I chose one out towards the airport. It's at 4815 Broadway, Depew, NY. 14 mins from the Buffalo Airport.

Just a heads up that it appears they may only book 1 test every 15 mins. I initially grabbed a 3:00 for myself as it was the only time available, hoping to get a second 3:00 for my daughter but the only time they gave her was the following day so I had to move mine. As of 4:30 last night they were booking for Wed, Dec 29th.

That seems to be the norm for all Walgreens....one test every 15 minutes. However, if you have multiple people in your car you just book multiple times and they will test you all at the first appointment.

 

[scrappinginontario]

That seems to be the norm for all Walgreens....one test every 15 minutes. However, if you have multiple people in your car you just book multiple times and they will test you all at the first appointment.

Thanks. I was pretty sure this would be the case as we're booked at 9:30 and 9:45 now. Next step is hoping we don't need to pay for them. Will find out when we get there. Will pay if needed but I know friends who had these done at Walgreens in FL to fly home today, were not charged. Time will tell.

 

[Eeyore's the Best]

I'm pretty sure you won't have to pay. I'm getting mine on Dec 26 in Fort Myers, I can post to confirm.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thanks. I know the FL ones aren't being charged but haven't yet had confirmation from anyone who tested in Buffalo. Not sure if things could be different from state to state.

Has anyone tested at Walgreens in Buffalo? Were you charged?

Next step, figure out the ArriveCAN app. LOL, they don't make anything easy

 

[damo]

Thanks. I know the FL ones aren't being charged but haven't yet had confirmation from anyone who tested in Buffalo. Not sure if things could be different from state to state.

Has anyone tested at Walgreens in Buffalo? Were you charged?

Next step, figure out the ArriveCAN app. LOL, they don't make anything easy

We tested in both Florida and South Carolina and didn't have to pay.

 

[scrappinginontario]

This is great news. Thanks!!

 

[Eeyore's the Best]

I’m in Fort Myers Florida right now. My sister and I went for our drive thru Walgreens test this morning. No charge, took all of 2 mins. She got her negative back 2 hours later and mine still hasn’t come 10 hours later. I’m going to try calling them in the morning and I have made another back up appt at Curative tomorrow at 1. It’s another free testing place that is supposed to have a free rapid PCR with results in 2 hours. Walgreen and CVS around here are all booked for tomorrow and we leave Tuesday afternoon. Wish me luck, why couldn’t mine have just come back at the same time??

 

[Cottager]

A friend just had his test done at the Orlando airport. One of his family members tested positive and received their results while waiting at the gate to fly back to Buffalo. When they went to board the plane, they were denied boarding. He thought they would still be able to board and fly domestically to Buffalo but they maintain US testing results in their system (which is great for the safety of others). In hindsight, if he had waited to do his testing at the Buffalo airport, he would still have been able to fly to Buffalo and drive across the border. He was able to rent a car and is now driving from Orlando to pick up his car at the Buffalo airport. Just food for thought.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I’m in Fort Myers Florida right now. My sister and I went for our drive thru Walgreens test this morning. No charge, took all of 2 mins. She got her negative back 2 hours later and mine still hasn’t come 10 hours later. I’m going to try calling them in the morning and I have made another back up appt at Curative tomorrow at 1. It’s another free testing place that is supposed to have a free rapid PCR with results in 2 hours. Walgreen and CVS around here are all booked for tomorrow and we leave Tuesday afternoon. Wish me luck, why couldn’t mine have just come back at the same time??

I hope your results are back now. I will say this is my concern too as we are only doing a quick 1 night shopping trip and our test is first thing the morning we are supposed to travel home. A delay might mean an extra night in Buffalo that we hadn't planned.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Thanks. I know the FL ones aren't being charged but haven't yet had confirmation from anyone who tested in Buffalo. Not sure if things could be different from state to state.

Has anyone tested at Walgreens in Buffalo? Were you charged?

Next step, figure out the ArriveCAN app. LOL, they don't make anything easy

We just came back flying from MCO to BUFF and ended up testing in Orlando but also had tests booked at Walgreens on Main St in Buffalo. While we haven’t tested there, the girl that does my nails said her daughter has gotten tested there for free many times.

Also, when we landed in Buffalo, I saw ads for rapid PCR test approved for entry to Canada at the airport. However it’s pricy, but says 30 min:
https://wnyrapidtesting.com/

 

[scrappinginontario]

We just came back flying from MCO to BUFF and ended up testing in Orlando but also had tests booked at Walgreens on Main St in Buffalo. While we haven’t tested there, the girl that does my nails said her daughter has gotten tested there for free many times.

Also, when we landed in Buffalo, I saw ads for rapid PCR test approved for entry to Canada at the airport. However it’s pricy, but says 30 min:
https://wnyrapidtesting.com/

Thanks! We have 2 upcoming events so the first will be a 'test run' for us. Tomorrow we are hopping over to Buffalo for a 2 day shopping trip. Late Jan/early Feb we have a Disney trip booked so will need to figure out testing for that one too. I had always planned on testing in Orlando but am now considering testing in Buffalo after flying home.

I'm looking at the Walgreens options but it appears the challenge may be that our flight may not give us enough time to land, get to the testing location (all Walgreens testing appears to end at 4:45 each day) and then wait for results. Considering either changing our flight to fly home 1 day earlier (not all bad as it would be a direct flight as opposed to 2 stops) or, stay an extra night and get tested first thing the morning after and hopefully drive home later that day.

So much more involved in travel then in the past!!!

 

[Eeyore's the Best]

Here an update, finally got through to Walgreens this morning. They said my test was negative and said that the emails are generated through a 3rd party she couldn’t resend the email but said I could come back through the drive thru and get a hard copy after 9 am so I’m about to do that now.
I found online someone had a similar situation and they were able to phone the 3rd party lab directly and get the email resent. Even though this was a bit of a hiccup I wouldn’t hesitate to use Walgreens again. If things went well we both would have had our results within 2 hours.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thanks so much @Eeyore's the Best! This is a great help!!

 

[Eeyore's the Best]

Another update, we went to pick up the hard copy and then miraculously the email came through at the exact same time lol. It shows the test was processed at 12:06 pm yesterday. I think whoever did it yesterday didn’t hit the correct button or something. Anyway I’m happy to have the email and now to enjoy the the remaining day and a half.

The real kicker is tomorrow night we have to connect through Orlando, to be so close and not be able to go Disney is going to be tough. Can’t take anymore vacation this time of year but hopefully we will be home soon