Seeking Your Review on Histopath Diagnostics Specialists for RT-PCR for International Travel

upended on 13/12/2021 - 14:21
Last edited 13/12/2021 - 14:23

After this post in November advising Histopath have reduced their RT-PCR test price to $79, I am reaching out to the OzBargain community seeking your reviews on this service. My family is travelling overseas next week and most places require payment prior to the actual testing. Histopath is no different. Although the price of $79 is very tempting, I wan't to ensure that my family receives their reports well within 24 hours of testing. If you have used Histopath's service for international travel RT-PCR, please tell me about:

  • Your experience driving up to Histopath's testing centre
  • The wait time (although you prepay for these tests, you can still drive to your centre of choice at any time)
  • The time it took to receive your results
  • Your experience where you had to follow up on your results (assuming they did not arrive in time)
  • The certificate they issued and was it accepted without any issue by your airline

Also, anyone knows if this is an ISO certified service provider that is certified by NATA? Does this information appear on the travel certificate?

My personal experience so far - I called Histopath to get some answers on the number listed on their website. After 40 minutes on hold with no response, I gave up. That said, the recorded voice message does ask people to email them to avoid waiting for someone to answer. Not sure how quickly they respond.

Lastly, any alternatives that you will recommend? 4Cyte, DHM, etc.?

Thank you all in advance.

Travel

Comments

  • Darce Vader on 13/12/2021 - 15:22
    +1

    I think the best service depends on where you're travelling (how rigorously it's enforced) and what their specific requirements are (eg within 24 hours).

    I just returned back from the US - I used Melbourne path because I wanted to make 100% sure I had a result before my flight. Took around 24 hours for a result, do recommend this for peace of mind if you have a broader testing window, certainly not if you need a same day test result.

    There were however many people at the airport using the histopath service. The check-in staff also seemed to be in contact with them and were referring passengers who did not have a preflight test to them. All seemed to board the flight ~4 hours later with no issues. Based on what I saw I would feel comfortable using them if I had a specified narrow testing window (<24 hours), giving plenty of time preflight for a result.

    FWIW my test was only checked by check in staff at Melbourne airport. They didn't do any sort of verification, just looked for RT-PCR, the test date and my name on the document. They had a list of all the different requirements for the different countries depending on where you were going. On arrival in the US, immigration staff there were checking some tests, but mostly not. Weren't interested in mine. More or less same experience coming back to Australia - check in staff had a quick glance, and wasn't asked for again.

    • upended on 13/12/2021 - 15:44

      Thanks! Like you, I too want to make sure that the results are with us prior to the flight. The destination country allows us to undertake testing 72 hours prior, so that is 3 days. I am based in NSW, so if not Histopath, I'd probably go with 4Cyte.

    • freefall101 on 13/12/2021 - 17:02
      +1

      Histopath has a 90 minute turnaround at the airport, it's possible to rock up early for your flight and get tested (not that I would recommend that, but it's a nice to know backup).

  • Lord Fart Bucket on 13/12/2021 - 15:57
    +1

    There was a histopath in Parramatta, next to Bankwest Stadium. Service was fine, results quick.

  • AG_ACT on 15/12/2021 - 11:54
    +1

    My wife had a test done at Queanbeyan, She went in around 4pm, and the results were with us at 11.45pm, the promise was for 9am the next day.

    I'll be using them myself on the 23rd.

    • upended on 15/12/2021 - 11:55

      Thanks!

  • xeion on 23/12/2021 - 11:16

    Seems to be long delays receiving results, even for pre-booked travel tests. Visited a clinic at 11:00 on Tuesday (which was 71 hours before my flight) and it's starting to be a concern on whether they will arrive by COB today.

    I've tried to phone them, voice message saying the call will be terminated and to email instead.

    If anyone has recent experience and got their results within 72hrs during this higher demand period, please let me know.

    • xeion on 07/01/2022 - 13:50

      I never got my results from the community clinic
      (2 weeks ago) and was forced to pay and line up for hours at the airport. I'll be seeking a refund for my pre-booked test of $100.
      No reply to any email asking for refund or my results, overall a terrible experience and I'll be seeking other options in the future.

  • ty99234 on 30/12/2021 - 10:55

    You probably need to go to the airport to do the test.
    I went to their community clinic last Wednesday and was directed they do not take travel tests at the moment. Called up the other community clinics nearby and none of them could do travel tests despite their website saying they could.
    Location: Killara, Sydney

  • upended on 07/01/2022 - 09:49

    Okay, so my family recently travelled overseas and they got their RT-PCR for international travel done with Histopath. This was just a few days before Christmas when there were no long queues. They got tested around 5pm and received their results same day at around 8pm. Very happy with Histopath's service.

    Now its my turn to travel overseas and I got my test done with Histopath in the first week of January 2022. I first went to the West Pennant Hills centre where queues were massive and I was asked to go elsewhere. I then went to Killara where they have changed the drive through to walk in. Got tested in 15 minutes and received my result same day within 5 hours of getting tested.

    Overall a very positive experience despite currently being the cheapest ($79). Other companies are charging over $100.

  • BillybobBarmcake on 07/01/2022 - 14:09

    I have the same question, I'm travelling from Brisbane to London next week. So far, Histopath at Brisbane airport seems like the best option because you need a flight number to get in, so presumably queues will be minimal, but who really knows! Their website mentions high demand, and coming in the day before to ensure you get results in time.

    But it does seem nothing is guaranteed at the moment and everything could crumble, nothing seems to be guaranteed.

  • Ozico on 19/01/2022 - 20:26

    Does anyone know if the passport used for PCR testing should be the one you are travelling with (have 2 passports, using AU for outbound flight) or it doesn't matter? Thanks!

  • kosmonaft on 21/01/2022 - 14:44

    On 02.01 my Dad had POSITIVE rapid test and on 04.01 he and my mom had positive PCR (test done in RPA).
    On 15.01 they did PCR in Histopath Burwood on Friday (48h before flight). Few hours later my mom got a NEGATIVE result when my father still had POSITIVE.
    On 16.01 (14hours after the previous test) we went to Histopath at the international airport and after 90 minutes we got a NEGATIVE result….

    Not sure how and why but….
    I though it's a mistake but our friends were in exactly the same situation.
    Test on 15.01 in Histopath Burwood - POSITIVE
    Test on 16.01 at the airport - NEGATIVE
    They didn't had COVID before as my dad but still

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