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Rapid tests

For those who have recently travelled back from Paris to the US, how much have you been paying in the pharmacies there for pre-flight covid testing?

Posted by
13809 posts

I traveled back on Oct 24 after having tested Oct 21 at a pharmacy around the corner from my hotel. I paid 25€ by credit card.

I also made some purchases in the pharmacy of small cosmetic items I’ll use for gifts. I appreciated their service and surely they can’t actually be being paid what their time is worth for the testing.

Posted by
13809 posts

It was an antigen test with results back in 15 minutes.

Posted by
9462 posts

It’s the standard, rapid antigen test; the price is legislated at 25€, and it is a test acceptable for entry to the United States. And it’s available all over the place.

Posted by
35 posts

Wonderful. Thanks. I wish rapid tests were that accessible and affordable in the States.

Posted by
35 posts

Anyone have a recommendation for pharmacy or testing location near the Sorbonne/Saint Germain?

Posted by
8377 posts

I wish rapid tests were that accessible and affordable in the States.

etmills, you can get rapid tests at just about any pharmacy around here - CVS, Walgreens, etc.

Posted by
13809 posts

@mimieprice - literally walk out of your hotel and go to the nearest pharmacy. There will probably be 2 or 3 within a block or two. The day before I was to do my test I went to my pharmacie of choice to ask if an appointment was necessary for the antigen test. The pharmacist said "We do them all day long. Just come in." I saw signs in many pharmacy windows during my stay that indicated that particular location wanted appointments but others that said something along the lines of "no appointment necessary". You are going to be surprised at how easy this is compared to getting a test done in the US.

Posted by
80 posts

The price of an administered test in a pharmacy can cost 5 euros more on Sundays. The price is otherwise 25 euros, although CDG airport apparently 30 regardless of the date. If testing at the airport, you should reserve your appointment here:
https://www.doctolib.fr/centre-depistage-covid/roissy-en-france/depistage-covid-aeroport-charles-de-gaulle .

It's better to just walk into a pharmacy and ask for the rapid antigen test since no appointment issue, it's fast, and it's cheaper.

If you want to stock up on rapid antigen tests for your own personal use back in the states, they're also much less expensive in France and available at every pharmacy. Citypharma has been selling a pack of 5 that works out to 3.99 each. Individual tests cost around 4.20 to 5 euros at most pharmacies and by law they are capped at 5.20.

Posted by
531 posts

Stan …..Walgreens does show Binax now on their Covid testing page but here where I am when I go to schedule it ….it comes back saying sorry test not available within 100 miles and then the map shows it’s available in West Virginia…..same with CVS here.