LAX steps up its COVID-19 testing options with one-hour PCR service

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) now offers COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests with results guaranteed in less than an hour with the addition of a new testing option at the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

The tests are in addition to PCR tests being offered for sale at several locations throughout the airport (with results in either 3-5 hours or within 24 hours, depending on location) and rapid antigen tests at the airport’s innovative on-site laboratory.

And they don’t come cheap as the cost for getting the results within the hour is $199 a person.

“We continue to see a strong demand for fast and accurate COVID-19 testing at LAX, which is helping passengers travel safely and opening up more destinations to them,” said Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) CEO, Justin Erbacci.

“By adding a one-hour rapid PCR test, LAX once again is leading the way in airport innovation and guest service, and providing travellers with access to dependable and accurate rapid testing solutions that meet their timing needs.”

The new test, developed by Visby, will be available at the Tom Bradley International Terminal testing location, at ticket counters C01-C05 on the Upper/Departures Level from 7am to 7pm daily.

This rapid PCR test is accepted by the State of Hawaii along with a number of international destinations that require a negative result for travel.

The COVID-19 lab that opened across from Terminal 6 in late December continues to offer PCR nasal swab tests with results available in 3-5 hours.

That lab also processes samples collected at the Terminal 2 and Tom Bradley International Terminal locations, with results returned in less than 24 hours. Those tests are $125. The nasal-swab antigen tests, which are available only at Terminal 6, cost $80 and have results available in just 30-60 minutes.

Customers are responsible for knowing the type of test results that are acceptable for their destination or purpose for testing.

The on-site testing program at LAX has constantly evolved, with test results moving from 24-48 hours during the interim testing solution in November, to as little as 30 minutes today.