The topic of “testing” will remain with Austria for a few more months, and a negative result is currently required to enter many countries. In the Alpine republic you can test yourself out of the "forced quarantine" after five days. More and more countries, including Austria and Germany, are now recognizing a negative rapid antigen test result. For a few weeks now, such a test has also been carried out in many Austrian pharmacies. Aviation Direct spoke to the professional representative.

It is basically the case that pharmacies need trained and trained staff to carry out the rapid anti-virus tests. In this context, however, the industry is extremely brisk and hardworking, so that as of February 5, 2021, over 402 Austrian pharmacies are already authorized to carry out Covid-19 antigen rapid tests. At the end of this article there is an interactive map on which all pharmacies where you can get tested are shown. In short: Almost every inhabitant of Austria already has a test facility nearby.

Simply going to the pharmacy and requesting a rapid test is not the right way to go, according to the chamber, which recommends: “A telephone reservation for a COVID19 antigen rapid test is definitely necessary. Once the appointment has been made, it happens very quickly on site. The sample is taken through a nasopharynx swab and the result is available in about 20 minutes ”. By the way, some pharmacies also offer online booking of a test appointment via their homepage.

The service must be paid for by yourself. Since the individual pharmacists are free to set their prices, it is advisable to inquire about the costs by telephone when you first contact us. Some pharmacies also show this on their homepages, others unfortunately do not have an internet presence. When asked about prices, the Chamber of Pharmacists said: “There are numerous different COVID19 antigen rapid tests on the market, which cost different amounts. The prices for performing a COVID19 rapid antigen test start at around 25 euros. "

Wait 15 to 20 minutes for the result

Since many people need the hopefully negative test result as proof that they are currently free from Covid-19, it is of course also important to receive confirmation. But how much time do you have to plan for a quick test in a pharmacy? "It takes around 15-20 minutes from taking the sample to getting the test result," says the professional representative. "Usually, the person receives the result by SMS, email or directly, regardless of whether it is positive or negative."

If the rapid antigen test turns out negative, there is a certificate of the result and the test person can count himself lucky not to be infected. But many people are also concerned with the question of what happens when the antigen test kit has a positive result. The Chamber of Pharmacists said: "The pharmacy must report the positive result to the district health authority or the magistrate and the person tested must have a PCR test carried out to check the result." In simple terms, this means that the responsible health authority then conducts a PCR test. Can order test for verification. By the way: If an Austrian authority arranges the PCR, which is expensive as a private service, then there are no costs for the person being tested.

The Chamber of Pharmacists sees the rapid test offer that has been available in more and more pharmacies for a few weeks as an important pillar in the fight against pandemics: “There are pharmacies all over Austria - from Lake Constance to Lake Neusiedl - specializing in COVID 19 antigen rapid tests. This enables many people to quickly and easily carry out a test at one of the pharmacists in the area. These tests are a snapshot and provide important information about your own infection status and thus increase awareness of the importance of protective measures. "

When asked about the first conclusion regarding the acceptance by the population, the chamber said: “The rapid antigen tests in the specialized pharmacies are very well received by the population. Many pharmacies were fully booked, especially during the holiday season. "

Interactive map shows all authorized pharmacies throughout Austria

The following interactive map shows all Austrian pharmacies that are authorized to carry out Covid-05 antigen rapid tests with data as of February 2021, 19. Conveniently, when you click on the pharmacy in question, you will also find the telephone number of the respective location. The card was based on the official list of the Chamber of Pharmacists Prepared by Aviation Direct to the best of its knowledge and belief. Liability for errors cannot be accepted.

Tip: The map below can also be called up directly in Google Maps via smartphones, provided you have installed the app. Just click on this Google Maps link.