United Airlines and Abbott have partnered to offer BinaxNow, a first-of-its-kind COVID-19 Home Test. Customers traveling overseas can carry the test on their journey and self-administer the rapid antigen test under supervision of a telehealth service prior to return.
On Wednesday (May 12, 2021), United Airlines announced a first of its kind collaboration with Abbott integrating the use BinaxNow, the company’s rapid antigen COVID-19 Test, and Abbott’s NAVICA app. New CDC guidelines allow travelers to self-administer the test under the real-time supervision of a telehealth service and use the verified negative result to board an international flight to the U.S. United’s customers can now depart with a BinaxNow Home Test in their carry-on bag and administer the test via the eMed digital health platform while overseas. The process eliminates the need for customers to locate a testing center abroad, creating a more seamless and hassle-free travel experience.
In Wednesday’s announcement, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC's) Director, Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, said,
“We appreciate the private sector proactively helping travelers have access to easy, reliable COVID-19 test options. Comprehensive testing that is easy, rapid, accurate and trusted is a fundamental strategy for preventing the spread of COVID-19.”
United is the only airline offering end-to-end integration between a digital platform and a testing app with the seamless integration between the United Travel Ready Center platform and Abbott’s NAVICA app. The BinaxNow Home Test kit is lightweight and about the size of a day planner. United recommends that customers carry more than one kit in the event of an inconclusive result.
Speaking on the new testing solution, United Airlines’ Chief Customer Officer, Toby Enqvist, said,
“We want to give our customers greater peace of mind that when they travel internationally, they'll be able to return to the U.S quickly and safely. The Abbott BinaxNOW Home Test meets CDC requirements and, along with our partners at Abbott, United is doubling down on our commitment to make international travel as safe and convenient as possible by offering an easy testing option when customers are ready to return to the United States.”
Further commenting on the collaboration, Abbott’s Vice President – Rapid and Molecular Diagnostics Business, Andrea F. Wainer, added,
“The BinaxNOW COVID-19 rapid test is the most studied and widely used rapid test in the United States today and with our partner United, we're making testing even more broadly available as the country returns to international business and leisure travel. The CDC's recent guidance also reinforces the importance of our NAVICA app, because airlines and other safety-conscious industries, such as workplaces and higher education, will need digital solutions that can be used to quickly and easily validate and verify test results.”
The BinaxNow Home Test meets the CDC’s guidelines due to the unique digital proctor experience through eMed. Abbott’s recently authorized BinaxNow Self Test for over-the-counter purchase is not eligible for travel purposes. To learn more about the Abbott home testing process, please visit united.emed.com or click here.
United Airlines’ shared purpose is “Connecting People. Uniting the World.” Shares in the company’s parent, United Airlines Holdings, Inc., are publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol ‘UAL.’
Source: United Airlines
Commenti