Fit to Fly Certificates and COVID19 PCR Testing

1. Fit to Fly Certificates and COVID19 PCR Testing Since the challenges of SARS-COVID19 started affecting most countries in the first quarter of 2020. Countries around the world have put in place protections in order to stop the spread of coronavirus into their countries. Part of the strategy in order for countries to do this, is for them to require travellers entering their country to have a certificate which proves that they do not have symptoms of a current virus and also a test which also confirms that there is no evidence of coronavirus in their upper respiratory tract- they major source for transmission. As Dr Ahmed is a specialist in aviation medicine, is well placed to issue both the certificate and also to undertake the necessary tests in order for people to confidently to travel into a country that requires this certification process.

2. The process is straightforward. After booking the appointment, PrivateMedical.Clinic™ will email a consent form which the individual will complete and send back to the clinic by email. We can then ensure the clinic processes are swift. On the day of appointment the client will attend PrivateMedical.Clinic™ and will have a temperature checked by a non- contact temperature monitor and then proceed to have a medical assessment which includes pulse and oxygen levels checked, a blood pressure checked, the respiratory rate checked and any additional checks that may be required. The doctor will then undertake a swab test of the back of the throat and up the nose which occasionally causes a little bit of irritation. As the clinic is experienced in undertaking the tests, most of our clinic patients including children are able to have the procedure done safely without too much discomfort. The swab test is the couriered over to the central laboratory in London which undertake the analysis. The reason why the clinic uses the main lab in London is that the report shows the test is an accredited test and the turnaround time currently 1 to 2 days. Once the report is back, the doctor that will then email a copy of the lab result and a fit to fly certificate to the individual, in order for them to either forward those on to the airline or the visa department prior to flying or have the reports at hand to show the immigration officer in the country once they have landed in order for them to be allowed to enter the country safely.

3. Dr Ahmed has been undertaking a fit to fly reports for a number of years, without any significant issues. The new PCR testing regime has been in place for several months. PCR swab testing needs to be done safely and therefore the doctor will need to be in full personal protective equipment -wearing face masks, face visors etc. The only major challenge for this process is the time that each country allows the person to have the PCR test before they are allowed to enter the country. This ranges from 72 to 96 hours and whilst we will endeavour to get all the lab reports back within 1 to 2 days of the sample been taken, the timing of the swab results therefore becomes critical. To assist this process, we courier our samples straight to the lab and send the reports as soon as we receive them back to the individual. Additionally some patients also require having an IgG antibody test. This test detects whether an individual has previously been exposed to SARS- COVID19. The test should be undertaken at least two weeks have elapsed from the onset of any symptoms. We will only see patients in our clinic once they have been asymptomatic for at least two weeks. The test however can look back several months to see if people have had a previous exposure whether they have had symptoms or never had symptoms. This test produced by Abbott, and the test result is usually back within 24 hours currently. It has a high sensitivity and specificity for COVID-19 meaning it is highly accurate. The clinic prides itself in having a safe, efficient and smooth process and our clients have appreciated the service we offer.

4. Eastgate House, 19-23 Humberstone Road, Leicester, LE5 3GJ Call Us: 0333 404 3232 Email Us: info@privatemedical.clinic Website: https://www.privatemedical.clinic/