LAX Is Now Offering COVID Testing At Three Locations

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We’re increasingly seeing states, countries, and regions coming to the conclusion that one of the better ways to get travel restarted is through the use of pre-departure coronavirus testing. It’s far from a perfect solution but it’s certainly better than allowing anyone and everyone to fly around at will so it’s important to know your testing options before you book.

To help get passengers cleared to travel to their chosen destinations, various airlines (American, United, Delta, etc…) have started to offer pre-departure testing at select locations around the United States as well as offering access to at-home testing options. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is now doing its bit to help people travel safely by offering its own COVID-19 testing at three separate terminals.

Travelers departing from LAX now have access to COVID-19 testing through what the airport is calling “a pilot sample collection program” with the sample collection sites found at these three locations:

• Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) on the Upper/Departures level at the counters located in Aisle C, along the north side of the terminal
• Terminal 2 Lower/Arrivals Level near the information booth; and
• Terminal 6 Lower/Arrivals Level near the information booth.

The FDA-approved tests are being provided by Clarity Lab Solutions (more info here) and are the standard Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) nasal swab tests that are being rolled out just about everywhere that COVID testing is offered. The tests cost $150, are available to everyone between 08:00 and 20:00 on a walk-up basis, and LAX and Clarity say that results will be reported directly to participants within 24 hours via email.

The Clarity Lab test is certified by the State of Hawaii to provide COVID-19 test results in accordance with the state’s travel restrictions, so Angelenos looking for a break (once the stay-at-home orders are lifted) can make the most of these facilities if they’d like to head to Hawaii.

However, and this is important, please don’t miss the fact that the results from the Clarity Lab tests take up to 24 hours to arrive so the tests being offered at LAX are not the same as the rapid tests that United is offering in San Francisco or the rapid tests that American Airlines is offering at Dallas-Fort Worth. Those tests return results in under 20 minutes and can therefore be taken on the day of departure. The tests being offered at LAX are being turned around quickly (by regular nasal swab test standards) but they’re not suitable for day-of-departure testing.