Bradley International Airport said air passengers should expect to wait at least 72 hours for the results of COVID-19 tests taken at the testing site in the airport’s terminal, an increase of more than a day from what was initially expected.
Bradley said high demand for the service among air passengers prompted the airport to increase wait times for the results. Bradley said an average of 200 travelers a day take advantage of testing at the airport, marketed as a convenience to the traveling public and a way to avoid a 14-day quarantine, if results come back negative.
The airport said there is no guarantee when the results will be available to travelers and that is influenced by the ebb and flow of demand on the testing lab.
Since the service was launched Sept. 30, about 4,000 passengers have used the testing service at the airport.
Bradley said it also is trying to cut down on wait times at the testing site. The size of space, in the airport’s baggage claim area, has been expanded and the lab hired for the testing, Genesys Diagnostics, has added additional staff.
Genesys also has rolled out a new, automated registration and notification system that allows passengers to register and receive results in one online portal.
Pre-registration is not required, but passengers that want to use the service are urged to sign up at www.gdilabs.com.
Bradley was among the first airports in the country to offer the testing, alongside Tampa International Airport, as airports seek to reverse plummeting air travel traffic and work to make travelers more comfortable with flying.
The COVID-19 testing at Bradley is available seven days a week between 11:30 a.m. and midnight or as needed, depending on airline scheduling. Passengers must present proof of insurance or, if the test isn’t covered or the passenger doesn’t have insurance, the cost is $125 for each test, and can be charged to a credit card.
The test is a PCR coronavirus test.
A negative test result allows passengers arriving from states and territories on Connecticut’s travel advisory “hot spot” list to shorten or avoid a mandatory, 14-day self-quarantine. Written proof of a negative test must be sent to the state Department of Health Commissioner by email at DPH.COVID-Travel@ct.gov or by fax at 860-326-0529.
Bradley also is strongly considering launching a drive-through testing option in one of its parking lots. Those tests would be done by a separate lab, spreading out the processing of tests and hopefully getting them returned to passengers quicker. The drive-through testing site also would be open to the general public.
Contact Kenneth R. Gosselin at kgosselin@courant.com.
