Switch Health Covid Test report

[thenicefamily]

I can now post a full report on our experience with the Switch Health (switchhealth.ca) at-home Covid test kits. In summary - excellent experience!

You don't need to fly Air Canada to get the reduced price kits. We were already Aeroplan members but not flying AC to our trip to Disneyland last week. You can easily sign up to become an Aeroplan member before purchasing your kits. I understand that some kits are back-ordered but if you can wait, IMO, it's worth it to order them now.

We ordered 2 Rapid Antigen (4 tests/2 per kit) kits plus 4 LAMP kits the day the offer was mentioned here on Disboards. They arrived within a day.

For us in BC, the rapid antigens saved us almost $400 (they worked out to $39 each, compared with $100-125 elsewhere in BC). The LAMP tests, at $149CAD weren't so much a saving in $ as a stress-saving. I just wasn't interested in spending valuable Park time sourcing US tests, arranging them, stressing over results that might or might not arrive within the 48-hour timeframe. We were only AT Disneyland for 72-hours, no way was I going to stress for at least 3/4 of that.

The at-home method was sooooo sweet! Again, completely stress-free. No need to book an appointment, drive miles, arrange Ubers. All we needed to do was scan the kit QR code, which logged us in our phones. We then needed to wait a max. of 5 minutes to connect with someone who watched us take our tests. We didn't need guidance because we've taken them before but if you haven't, rest assured the helpful people online will guide you.

Our Rapid Antigen tests were clear within minutes and, after 15, we were allowed to upload the results and, within another couple of minutes, received our official NEGATIVE results which we used at the airport on the way to California.

The sign-in process for our LAMP tests, taken in our hotel room at Disneyland, was similarly stress-free. We had a quiet hour at our hotel and figured it would be a good time to log-on and do them. Again, quick connection with someone talking us through. A little longer for the result - a whole 45 minutes! - but oh, so, EASY.

So, two giant thumbs up for Switch Health's at-home tests!!! My fervent wish for anyone with upcoming trips is that the need for these tests will be over soon but, if you're travelling in the coming days/weeks, I can only say that from our experience, these tests are the way to go.

 

[cdunn03]

That’s great ! I am glad to hear a good review! We are heading to Disneyland in January and maybe be will using as well

 

[quandrea]

I can now post a full report on our experience with the Switch Health (switchhealth.ca) at-home Covid test kits. In summary - excellent experience!

You don't need to fly Air Canada to get the reduced price kits. We were already Aeroplan members but not flying AC to our trip to Disneyland last week. You can easily sign up to become an Aeroplan member before purchasing your kits. I understand that some kits are back-ordered but if you can wait, IMO, it's worth it to order them now.

We ordered 2 Rapid Antigen (4 tests/2 per kit) kits plus 4 LAMP kits the day the offer was mentioned here on Disboards. They arrived within a day.

For us in BC, the rapid antigens saved us almost $400 (they worked out to $39 each, compared with $100-125 elsewhere in BC). The LAMP tests, at $149CAD weren't so much a saving in $ as a stress-saving. I just wasn't interested in spending valuable Park time sourcing US tests, arranging them, stressing over results that might or might not arrive within the 48-hour timeframe. We were only AT Disneyland for 72-hours, no way was I going to stress for at least 3/4 of that.

The at-home method was sooooo sweet! Again, completely stress-free. No need to book an appointment, drive miles, arrange Ubers. All we needed to do was scan the kit QR code, which logged us in our phones. We then needed to wait a max. of 5 minutes to connect with someone who watched us take our tests. We didn't need guidance because we've taken them before but if you haven't, rest assured the helpful people online will guide you.

Our Rapid Antigen tests were clear within minutes and, after 15, we were allowed to upload the results and, within another couple of minutes, received our official NEGATIVE results which we used at the airport on the way to California.

The sign-in process for our LAMP tests, taken in our hotel room at Disneyland, was similarly stress-free. We had a quiet hour at our hotel and figured it would be a good time to log-on and do them. Again, quick connection with someone talking us through. A little longer for the result - a whole 45 minutes! - but oh, so, EASY.

So, two giant thumbs up for Switch Health's at-home tests!!! My fervent wish for anyone with upcoming trips is that the need for these tests will be over soon but, if you're travelling in the coming days/weeks, I can only say that from our experience, these tests are the way to go.

What was the expiration date on your LAMP tests? We don’t travel until May, but the kits are back in stock now.

 

[dancin Disney style]

What was the expiration date on your LAMP tests? We don’t travel until May, but the kits are back in stock now.

If I were you I would wait a little bit and see what happens. There is tremendous pressure on the feds to drop the testing all together for fully vaxd people.

 

[Chip#1]

Thank you so much for posting! Was a little worried about securing a spot with Switch Health based on all the previous reports the media posted; back in the day when EVERYONE had to test when they got to the airport. But definitely less people using the system now and they probably have a better handle on things. We have our kits for our trip in <2 weeks; thanks again!

 

[azrivest]

The sign-in process for our LAMP tests, taken in our hotel room at Disneyland, was similarly stress-free. We had a quiet hour at our hotel and figured it would be a good time to log-on and do them. Again, quick connection with someone talking us through. A little longer for the result - a whole 45 minutes! - but oh, so, EASY.

Wow! I thought you had to send your test by courier. Makes the test much more attractive

 

[wdwmom3]

Great to hear it worked so smoothly. We aren’t travelling until February but it’s definitely something I will keep in mind.

It’s fairly easy for us to get the antigen tests at pharmacies around here. But I will be considering the tests for coming home. I’m not going to look at getting them right now though. I’m really hoping they drop the testing requirement, or at least let us do the antigen test.

 

[hdrolfe]

This sounds like a good option for our return to Canada after March cruises, if tests are still required. I know the cruiseline we are looking at does do testing, but it looks like they are shifting the way they do it and it might not be the best timing for us, so this would be a good option to have. I'll wait and see though, hopefully the requirement gets removed, or at least lowered to only anitgen tests before then.

 

[Isabelle12345]

We did the rapid Antigen test tonight and it went very smoothly, less than 30 min total and it was very clear and easy!
We have both negative results in hand, now fingers crossed nothing happens until Saturday so we can leave for our short trip to Florida!!

 

[BijouBabe]

Thanks for your update! I will be using the RT LAMP test before my return to Canada and haven’t heard much feedback so it’s good to hear it worked out so well.

 

[Tamiele]

I can now post a full report on our experience with the Switch Health (switchhealth.ca) at-home Covid test kits. In summary - excellent experience!

You don't need to fly Air Canada to get the reduced price kits. We were already Aeroplan members but not flying AC to our trip to Disneyland last week. You can easily sign up to become an Aeroplan member before purchasing your kits. I understand that some kits are back-ordered but if you can wait, IMO, it's worth it to order them now.

We ordered 2 Rapid Antigen (4 tests/2 per kit) kits plus 4 LAMP kits the day the offer was mentioned here on Disboards. They arrived within a day.

For us in BC, the rapid antigens saved us almost $400 (they worked out to $39 each, compared with $100-125 elsewhere in BC). The LAMP tests, at $149CAD weren't so much a saving in $ as a stress-saving. I just wasn't interested in spending valuable Park time sourcing US tests, arranging them, stressing over results that might or might not arrive within the 48-hour timeframe. We were only AT Disneyland for 72-hours, no way was I going to stress for at least 3/4 of that.

The at-home method was sooooo sweet! Again, completely stress-free. No need to book an appointment, drive miles, arrange Ubers. All we needed to do was scan the kit QR code, which logged us in our phones. We then needed to wait a max. of 5 minutes to connect with someone who watched us take our tests. We didn't need guidance because we've taken them before but if you haven't, rest assured the helpful people online will guide you.

Our Rapid Antigen tests were clear within minutes and, after 15, we were allowed to upload the results and, within another couple of minutes, received our official NEGATIVE results which we used at the airport on the way to California.

The sign-in process for our LAMP tests, taken in our hotel room at Disneyland, was similarly stress-free. We had a quiet hour at our hotel and figured it would be a good time to log-on and do them. Again, quick connection with someone talking us through. A little longer for the result - a whole 45 minutes! - but oh, so, EASY.

So, two giant thumbs up for Switch Health's at-home tests!!! My fervent wish for anyone with upcoming trips is that the need for these tests will be over soon but, if you're travelling in the coming days/weeks, I can only say that from our experience, these tests are the way to go.

Hi! I am so confused! Does the kit do the testing or does the sample need to be sent somewhere for testing?? The kits I see on the switch site show it needs to be picked up by purolator. I am interested in the LAMP. If you had 2 minutes to explain a little further, I’d be so grateful.

 

[wdwmom3]

Hi! I am so confused! Does the kit do the testing or does the sample need to be sent somewhere for testing?? The kits I see on the switch site show it needs to be picked up by purolator. I am interested in the LAMP. If you had 2 minutes to explain a little further, I’d be so grateful.

The lamp test kit does the testing. It does not need to be sent anywhere. This is from the switch health site.

Test for presence of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease COVID-19. The RT-LAMP Test Kit is a molecular diagnostic test and does not require laboratory processing. It is a self-administered test observed via a telehealth experience.


They also sell a home collection kit. That one is different and does need to be sent out. That’s not the one you want.

 

[Tamiele]

Thank you so much for clarifying! I went back on the switch site and did see the separate kit for the test you are speaking of. I’m disappointed though because I really thought we could use those as our cruise comes to an end but the Wi-Fi is so spotty I don’t think we could do the video chat properly. But I am excited to utilize those tests for our next land vacation.

 

[shellott-hill]

OK. I am confused by this ASMO website.

When you order the kits, it asks you to create a ASMO account. During the registration it is asking for my return flight details that are in the future. It then errors out when I try to finish the registration (saying my flight is too far in the future).

What is the proper way to schedule and setup the call and not go through all these hoops that do not seem needed at this time?

 

[Princess KP]

OK. I am confused by this ASMO website.

When you order the kits, it asks you to create a ASMO account. During the registration it is asking for my return flight details that are in the future. It then errors out when I try to finish the registration (saying my flight is too far in the future).

What is the proper way to schedule and setup the call and not go through all these hoops that do not seem needed at this time?

When I purchased my kits on two separate occasions, it did not ask me create an ASMO account. I just had to enter my Aeroplan number, shipping info and credit card.
I haven't used them yet (I will during Marathon Weekend, which I think you are planning to as well ) but I read that other users set up their account right before testing and that an appointment wasn't required as ASMO telehealth is available 24/7.

 

[shellott-hill]

When I purchased my kits on two separate occasions, it did not ask me create an ASMO account. I just had to enter my Aeroplan number, shipping info and credit card.
I haven't used them yet (I will during Marathon Weekend, which I think you are planning to as well ) but I read that other users set up their account right before testing and that an appointment wasn't required as ASMO telehealth is available 24/7.

Thank you for the quick response. That is good to know. I assume the 24/7 number will be delivered with the kit.

Yes, I will be bringing them down to Florida for Marathon Weekend. This option is much better than me trying to scramble for a test between the half and the full.

 

[Princess KP]

Thank you for the quick response. That is good to know. I assume the 24/7 number will be delivered with the kit.

Yes, I will be bringing them down to Florida for Marathon Weekend. This option is much better than me trying to scramble for a test between the half and the full.

The portal info is on the package. I think it's the same one that you tried to create an account on.

I am going to try and make an appointment after the half at Walgreens and if nothing is available, the kit will be my backup.