Binax web site needs to be downloaded in US before leaving for your trip.

Sorry you had trouble. Where did you purchase the tests from? I purchased mine from emed and they have clear instructions you can read on the website when purchasing so you know what to expect when using the test.

As far as downloading the app, it’s as simple as going to the app store on your phone or tablet and searching for “Navica.” The reason for the no instructions in the box is because you are instructed via the app on how to do the test. They don’t want people to open the test ahead of time so people can’t tamper with it.

Again, sorry you had trouble. I used the test last month in Switzerland and found it very convenient. I had looked on-line prior to my trip and read many posts here about the BinaxNow home test so I knew what to expect.

Are you, perhaps, using BinaxNow as a generic term? In fact it is a registered trademark. What is the actual brand name on the box you bought? In what country did you buy it? Did you buy it in person, or on the internet?

I ask, not to be officious, but because I finally managed to buy two boxes of BinaxNow at a Walgreens. There is no such warning on exterior of the box, and having received many BinaxNow tests to visit my mother's nursing home, I know that it does not involve any remote communications. Is the App you refer to a mechanism for getting some sort of Bar Code for the country you are in, rather than for the performance of the medical test itself?

I have to agree that the instructions were quite clear. We set up the Navica app before we left, watched the instruction videos, and reviewed Forum OP reviews. We called the company beforehand with one question and received a prompt response.
Thought the Whole process was straight-forward and friendly.
Safe travels!

So the sleeve said to download the app. Were you able to do so? Is the app only available in the US? If not, you could have downloaded it from your hotel in AMS and proceeded. The instructions are via the app, so of course there were no instructions in the box. That’s why they want you to download the app. You use the app to do your appointment, during which the person explains the process. If the app is only available to users in the US, then yes they should be clearer that you need to download it ahead of time. But if the app was available to you in AMS, I don’t understand the problem.

@Tim
There are two versions of this test. One you do completely on your own and one that is proctored. You can tell which version you have by finding “OTC” in the lower left front cover (unsupervised at home test) or “Rx only” (supervised test approved by CDC for travel)

I am another that has used these tests successfully. We used them in Iceland in August, for 5 of us. Three of our party did not download the app until we were there, so you don't have to do that here in the US. The directions were very clear, and trust me, I am not good with technology, so if I can figure it out they did a good job;)

Thanks for the responses. I am quite adept with my smart phone and computers. What threw me was that the app had to be downloaded BEFORE leaving the states. I was nervous about opening the package for fear I would invalidate the test. Better wording on the box would have been instructions to download the app before leaving home country. I had the proctored RX version.

The point about the downloading of the app is it CANNOT be downloaded outside of the US. I was all set to download in Ams., just wasn’t allowed to.

Mikliz97
I am very surprised that your friends were able to download in Iceland and we weren’t able to in Amsterdam. I am still in Ams getting ready to go home, so I checked again to see if it was possible to download the app. The response basically said that an error occurred and might not be able to download in this location. Oh, well. Anyone want to buy three tests? They haven’t been used!😜😜😜😜

I would try with a VPN that is set up to “read” as if you are in the United States.

https://www.emed.com/airline-travel?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5cWxpcrr8wIV0nRvBB0QJgdCEAAYAiAAEgI13PD_BwE

I had to shrink my screen to 80% before the tiny print at the very bottom ( of the pop up) was visible to see the advisory to set up an account while in the US. And if one did not do that and closed the pop up the rest of the 'how to' does not have a clear 'you must set up account while in the US'.

This wording--
4. Create a digital health pass account, download the app, and pack two (2) tests per person in your carry-on bag before leaving the U.S.

-- could easily be clearer that you MUST create the account while in the US , prior to travel.

Something that important should be billboard obvious, not 'fine print' at the bottom of a page

We used it without any issues. But I did register myself and wife before we left. I never used the app when traveling. We always got result via email and I printed them off at the hotel. And I went thru the emed website to do the test and login. Never used the app for anything other than getting a notification of our results. Airline said to print results to reduce any confusion so that’s what we did.

I did download the app prior to my trip, but didn’t end up using it when I was in Europe. I took the proctored tests through my account on https://www.emed.com/ It’s the same account that you have to set up in order to purchase the tests. You don’t need the app. The website walks you though the proctored test. They intentionally don’t include the instructions so that the proctor can guide you through the test step by step.

These are definitely times for patience and plan B in travel. Sorry this happened to you.

It was our adult kids that did not download the app until we were there, not that it matters. We were all in one room when doing all of this and none of us had any issues.

I downloaded the app prior to leaving the US on my Android phone, but then was also able to download it on my iPad while in France.

However, after reading some app reviews online, I ended up not using the app at all and went directly to the website to conduct my test. I had read concerning reports of apps crashing, users losing their connection & queue, and tests becoming invalid since by the time they got re-conneted, the tests were expired. So based on app reviews and suggestions, I went through website.

The process took me about 20 mins all together (and another 20 for my wife). We were emailed the results as well. I had both the Navica result AND the Emed PDF on my phone. I showed the Emed PDF and that was sufficient to re-enter with.. so.. I actually never had to have the app.

I downloaded the app before traveling but did hubby’s yesterday in the UK. Never thought there’d be a problem with that and there was not. I have to say that the eMed proctor process went smoothly and quickly. We were both done in less than 45 minutes.

HOWEVER, the VeriFLY app used by American Airlines is a p-i-t-a. Very persnickety. That took almost 2 hours to sort as it doesn’t accept the BinaxNOW QR code. You have to upload the printed sheet and it was a struggle to get that photographed properly and make certain all the details matched. Every time we submitted my husband’s test results the response came back (like a bad teacher) ‘not right, try again.’ I finally figured out that the app wanted the “Doctor’s name” to be BinaxNOW not eMed. OTOH it accepted eMed on my app. Go figure.

Hoping we don;t have to do this again in a year!

I thought these tests were brilliant, and it all seemed pretty clear to us. We didn't open the package but downloaded the app and set up the accounts with the qr code on the box and followed the instructions that way.

Each test took about 25 minutes total, so under an hour we had our results. Flew back to the states via Emirates (from Italy) with no issues at all. The app offers you a printable PDF, a scannable QR code, and the company eMed sends you a nice official letter.

I'm sorry it didn't work out for you, but these are for sure not a rip off.

Interestingly enough, we needed the tests a few weeks ago and had no problem downloading and using them in the states. I still have no idea why it was such a problem in Amsterdam. Sure wish I had several more on hand as they are difficult to find.

Barbara, sorry to hear of your difficulties. It must have been so nerve-wracking ... I successfully used the BinaxNOW (purchased in late Sept. from American Airlines) for an EWR departure and a MAD return. Apparently and unknowingly, I was fortunate in that I had downloaded NAVICA in the States.
My suggestion: consider editing only the title to your post. It's an excellent alert to other Forum members to download NAVICA in the States prior to departing. Calling out the test as a "Rip off" may scare off members for using a helpful resource.

Didn't think to change title. Just did. Thanks for suggestion.

I impulse bought a couple just the other day and they arrived much faster than promised or I expected. So maybe try again, if you still need them?

I used it, only issue was that it made it sounds like you NEED 2 devices- one for the app and one to video chat and do the test. Basically as others mentioned you don't need to be in both at the same time, so I drained a nice hostel employee's phone for no reason! Now I know and will just do the test on my own phone in the future.

When I went to order a 6 pack of these tests it required me to list the user's names and DOB (I'm assuming to verify that the users were all over 18 years of age). I understand that we each need to download the app before leaving the US but do we have to list everyone that will be using the test before we order? There are 4 of use going, so a 6 pack should be plenty. I know they recommend 2 tests for each person but we will have 2 extra tests, so ordering 12 tests just seem like overkill. TIA.

I have ordered these 3 times now. Only once did I list everyones names. On our trip this summer there were 5 of us, so I brought. 3 extras, which we never needed. There was an issue with my test kit as the dropper was empty, so the proctor just had me use the leftover from my husbands and that way we didn't need to open another kit.

We head out again this week and I will just bring one extra kit this time.

If I can jump in with a question? I read on the forum a few months ago that each person need to have a separate email address to get individual results. My husband and I share our account, although we do have others jointly that we hardly use. When I ordered the Binax Now Ag kits I had to list to list our names and dates of birth, but they didn't ask for each person's email. Is that still an issue?