PCR Test Costs

So I've had a few PCR tests, and realised that the cost vary DRASTICALLY.

This is not to say the test if you have symptoms (those are free), but the test if you need to travel and need a travel certificate.

Would be good to compare notes... here's my tuppence :

- UZH Zurich : 180CHF (online advertised price), but never received an invoice... also neither did my insurance company apparently

- Hirslanden Zurich : 50chf (invoice)

- Medix (Zurich) : 68.70chf (to my insurance company)

- Qured (London) : 104gbp (credit card payment up front)

Any others to add to the list?

Mirialis labs France €62.79 credit card

https://biogroup.fr/mirialis/

Gene Predictis (Lausanne) - Invoice of CHF120

Triemli, Zurich. It costs me CHF 135 last year, not sure about now

I had a PCR Test as the USZ test center . As far as I understand, because I was sick (had evtl. corona symptoms), the BAG pays for the test and I am not charged at all.

I was at the USZ at 8:00 in the morning without an appointment. I barely had to wait in line and I had my (thankfully negative) results via SMS at 13:30.

Note: USZ does not do testing / test certificates for travellers - several people were turned away and had to go either to the airport (CHF 195, according the website or to the Kaserneareal .

That's not true - I have had two certificates for travel from USZ, and you can book it online...

In fact, on the front page, in English they state:

Testing

We are currently only offering COVID-19 testing to those without symptoms and for t ravel certificates . If you currently have symptoms and need a COVID-19 test, we kindly ask that you contact one of the other test centers in Zürich, e.g. Corona Testcenter Kasernenareal .

https://coronazentrum.uzh.ch/en/

I think you are confusing two different test centers. I am writing about the University Hospital Zürich (USZ) - test center on Gloriastrasse 19, your link ( https://coronazentrum . uzh .ch/en/) is for the University of Zürich (UZH) Test Center - Hirschengraben 84.

The USZ did do Corona travel certificates in the past. Apparently, they stopped doing them early January. On Thursday morning on Gloriastrasse I saw three people turned away and sent to other sites for Travel Certificates (interestingly, they were not sent to the UZH site that you linked - maybe because you need an appointment, but I really don't know why.

The USZ website in German states: Testungen für Reiseatteste führen wir keine durch. This tranlates into We do not perform testing for travel certificates. In English the website states: Important notice The USZ does not carry out screenings for persons without symptoms. If you don't have any symptoms, please contact the public hotlines for further information.

Ideally the testing centres would separate high risk (symptoms) from low risk (travel certificates, no symptoms) at the testing centres...

So it makes perfect sense that they do have different clinics offering different services. Plus the added option of not-for-profit (public) and for-profit (private) testing.

Also, high risk/symptoms are paid for by the government. They will be set up for electronic recording with your health insurance number. Low risk need a cash system and billing to get they money directly.

On calling Hirslanden, they quoted CHF156 for a PCR test. Is this a typo or the price for a different test?

For travel (no symptoms)

Basel airport 110CHF or 100eur

Labor Rothen Basel 143.80CHF

I was wondering the same thing. I called Hirslanden in Bern today, hoping to hear 50 Francs... and was quoted 160.

That's the invoice I got... never asked for a price.

Unless I'm going to get a second invoice, that's all I paid I booked through onedoc if that makes a difference...

M.

Ok, fair enough. Sounds like you were lucky!

I haven't used them but I called the Amavita Apotheke in the Bern train station for information. They quoted two prices:

The rapid test is 57.50 and can be used for travel, BUT it is only in German (official BAG form), so the Americans probably won't accept it. You get the results within 15 minutes.

The regular PCR test is 57.50 for the pharmacy and 106 from the lab for a total of 163 CHF. Because this test is sent out to a lab, you can request the travel certificate in English and the lab will provide it.

The person I spoke to raised an interesting point. Most labs (at least in Bern?) do not work on weekends, so if you need to travel on a Monday or Tuesday you might want to call around to see which places can guarantee getting your results on the weekend.

A friend just got back from the US and had a rapid test done at Amavita here. It was all in French and was fine for travel to the US.

They checked it at check in and before boarding at the airport in Zurich but not on arrival in the US so I guess any Swiss national language is fine.

Also note that BAG changed the requirement for traveling to Switzerland from PCR test to a test, so assuming that a (cheaper) Anti.Gen test should be sufficient (it worked for me last Sunday )

EDIT: although it says test only, somewhere further on in the document it says PCR test........

if tests are free with symptoms, can't you just go in for a test and cough a lot?

Weird because I've used Amativa twice in Oerlikon for antigen tests for UK access within the last two months (pre-PCR requirement for Switzerland) and got the result in English and when I asked the second time if I specifically needed to make sure it was in English she said 'They're all in English unless you ask for German specifically'.

My workmate has done 4 at Amativa at Zur Airport and his are all in English too - in fact his even said the manufacturer of the specific test on although my two tests didnt.

Both us paid 57.50 each time.

That's not what it says here from the bag website where it specifically says PCR test is still needed:

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home...tml#1558231594

So if they decide to ask you for proof at the Swiss side, you're still going to have to have a PCR test and not an antigen test but you can board the plane to fly back here with a 24 hour or less antigen test. I'm not risking it.

Yea, I just read the page again and you are right