COVID-19 PCR travel testing in the Australian Capital Territory

You need to purchase a request form using the above link. We will send this to you by email once you have completed the purchase. You need to bring this form and your passport (or an electronic copy of your passport) to any Capital Pathology collection location when it is time for you to have the testing done. You do not need to make an appointment or call ahead as our centres operate as walk-in clinics. Let our collector know you are there for your Travel Test and they will complete the collection for you. Results will then be sent by SMS link and by email within 24 – 36 hours. Most testing is completed within 24 hours.

We do not offer appointments for this testing as our Collection Centres operate as walk-in clinics. Please present to any Capital Pathology collection centre when it is time for you to have the test.

 You can go to any of our Capital Pathology Collection Centres. Please see Our locations for opening hours and addresses.

Yes, you can go to any of our open Capital Pathology Collection Centres. Please see Our locations and use the ‘VIEW ALL FILTERS’ button to refine your search by collection centres open on Saturday and collection centres open on Sunday. 

Our collection centres are closed on most public holidays. We may provide reduced opening hours on certain days which will be communicated on Our Locations page. If we are closed and you are unable to have your test on a different day and require travel testing on a public holiday we offer the following:

• Attend any Capital Pathology collection centre prior to the Public Holiday to pick up a Self-Collect Covid-19 PCR kit
• Print off your request form to hand in with your sample
• After collecting your sample record/confirm your name, date of birth, date of collect and time of collect on tube and request form
• Drop sample off at our laboratory at Equinox Building 4, 40 Kent St Deakin ACT 2600 before 2:30pm
• Phone (02) 6285 9803 upon arrival as reception will be closed on Public Holidays.

Please print your prepaid pathology request form and have your passport on hand for when you go to have your sample collected. There are no special preparations required for a COVID-19 travel test. 

There is a collection window that you must present within to comply with the requirements of your state, country, airline, or cruise line. Please ensure that testing occurs with this timeframe.

For example, if you are required to have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure, please do not present before the 72-hour collection window or less than 24 hours before your departure.

It is your responsibility to understand the testing requirements of the state or country that you are travelling to, and of the airline or cruise line that will take you there. Our staff cannot assist with queries regarding this information. Our turn-around time is usually within 24 hours for your results to be ready so please factor this in when deciding when to have your testing done.

Refunds can be requested any time before your sample is collected. Refunds are only given when travel plans change but not for 'change of mind'.

If you are entitled to a refund there will be a $20 administration charge per traveller for this service, for all orders received from 17 November, 2021. It can take up to four – six weeks for this to be processed.

Our Accounts Department is available to speak with Monday – Friday 9:00am – 5:30pm on (02) 6285 9888.

Please note: Your order is valid for 12 months, so you don’t need to cancel if your travel is only delayed.

The request form is sent by email after you have placed your order. It is password protected and the password to open the attachment is your DOB in the following format: DD/MM/YYYY. You will need to enter the ‘/’ between the date of birth for the password to be correct.

The email will be sent from “Smart Health” and may be automatically be marked as spam by your email service. Please check all folders before contacting us.

We do not recommend using a Government email addresses to purchase your testing as the security levels for these addresses usually prevent our attachments coming through. If you have used a secure email address and have not received the email please contact us on (02) 6285 9803.

Your result is reported in a Travel Report that is sent by SMS to the mobile number you have entered when placing your order. You will need the 4 digit report access PIN to open the report. The PIN is found in your confirmation email and also on your tax invoice. Please do not delete the confirmation email until you have used this PIN

Yes, the passport number, country of origin and nationality that you enter when placing your order are included in your Travel Report.

Yes, however you are only able to include one passport number and nationality when placing the order. To add a second passport number and nationality, please tell the pathology collector who takes your sample and this will be organised for you.

Yes, your order is valid for 12 months from the date you placed it. Your flight details are for internal use only and is not reported on the Travel Certificate. You do not need to contact us to have this changed. Please print the form and write the new flight details on if so we can update this in our system when you have the test collected.

The PIN will be sent as a text message. It can take up to 10 minutes for it to come through. Please also double check you have entered the correct mobile number in the Contact Details.

There are some people with overseas mobiles that can't receive the PIN. In this instance, you should try to use a family or friends Australian mobile number to complete your purchase. If this is not an option, you will need to attend and pay at the collection centre.

The Voucher Code section is used by travel agents, airlines or corporate groups ordering the testing on behalf of their customers. Please leave this section blank if this does not apply to you. If you try to enter anything into this field when you do not have a voucher code it may not let you proceed to payment and you may need to start you order over again.

Unfortunately, Internet Explorer does not support the use of Sonic Travel Testing.

Compatible browsers to book and pay for your COVID-19 test through Sonic Travel Testing are Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari.

Sometimes, people can get a positive COVID-19 test result even though they no longer have COVID-19. If you have recently have COVID-19 you should consider consulting with your GP for the most recent health advice. Instead of a travel test you may need a ‘Fit to fly’, ‘Recovery Certificate’ or something similar depending on the relevant government requirements. Currently we do not provide this service. You may need to contact your airline or embassy for assistance.

Yes,  the QR code that authorities used to validate your results is printed on your Travel Report.

You order is valid for 12 months from the date you placed it. The expiry date is printed on the request form.

To view the report please click on this link Blank Travel Report

COVID-19 testing for pre-travel is not covered by Medicare at this time and all bookings are pre-paid during the ordering process. Our current prices are:

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) PCR
1 x combined single swab of throat and nose
$145.00

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) PCR
Required for travel to Japan
1 x Nasopharyngeal Swab
$145.00

*These prices are subject to change