May 12, 2021 – United Airlines and Abbott announced a collaboration to use Abbott’s BinaxNOW COVID-19 Home Test and Abbott’s NAVICA app to help make the international travel experience more seamless.
Recently updated CDC guidelines permit travelers to self-administer a rapid antigen test under the real-time supervision of a telehealth service and use the verified negative test result to board an international flight to the U.S. if they test negative.
United Airlines customers can depart the U.S. with the BinaxNOW Home Test in their carry-on bag and administer the test via the eMed digital health platform while overseas, avoiding the need to find a testing center abroad.
United says it is the only airline to offer end-to-end integration between a digital platform and a testing app with the integration between the United Travel Ready Center platform and Abbott’s NAVICA app which provides a seamless passenger experience when departing and re-entering the U.S.
Since the Travel-Ready Center launched in January, United customers have been able to easily access testing or vaccine requirements needed for travel destinations, upload completed testing results and vaccine records, as well as have them verified, all within the United app.
The BinaxNOW Home Test kit is lightweight and “about the size of a day planner,” the company says. It is recommended that passengers travel with more than one BinaxNOW test in their possession in the event of an inconclusive test result.
The Abbott BinaxNOW Home Test meets the CDC’s guidance due to the unique digital proctor experience through eMed, which provides observed sample collection, testing and digitally verified test results. Abbott’s recently authorized BinaxNOW Self Test for over-the-counter purchase is not eligible for travel purposes.