Covid 19 testing

[doncoulter]

The 799-peso test is only for Covid antibodies. That test does not indicate whether or not one currently has Covid; it only tells whether you have developed antibodies to it, which would indicate that you were exposed at some unknown point in the past.

If you want to know whether you currently have Covid, Farmacia Similares offers that test, too. It's called the PCR (polymerise chain reaction) test, and Similares charges 2,399 pesos for it. They also require a prescription (which you could presumably get from one of Similares' doctors, for a nominal extra fee; last I heard, they charged 30 pesos for a simple visit). You may be able to find more info on the Similares website: https://www.ssdrsimi.com.mx/promociones?...20covid-19. It would be important to find out how quickly the test result is available. The longer it takes, the less useful it is.

Oh, and getting a negative result on such a test doesn't mean you don't have Covid: the "false negative" rate is fairly high. Also, you could be negative today but come down with Covid tomorrow. So it would be important to know exactly what Costa Rica's requirements are.

I believe such tests are also available at the Chopo labs.