The COVID-19 PCR test is used to directly detect the presence of an antigen and will show if a person has COVID-19. Passengers to certain countries are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result before being allowed onto a flight.
One needs to ensure that the testing center carries out a nose/throat swab test and not a finger prick blood test. The result should state that it is a RT-PCR test that is negative. For answers to FAQ on Qatar Airways click here
A swab is taken of the back of the mouth and the top of the nose.
There are dedicated public health centres in Qatar.
One needs to go to their health centre (which is on your health card). Some health centres like Al Dayaan are closed on a Friday and Saturday. If your health centre is closed then you can go to Umm Slal.
Umm Slal (which is located near Doha Festival City Mall) and it was a lovely new, modern and quiet centre. They have a Drive-thru available. The process was very quick, easy and the staff were great.
I paid Qar 50 by credit card (Qar 50 if you have a Hamad Card).
The PCR test is supposedly Qar 156 if you dont have a Hamad Card.
Please take your RP and Hamad health card (if you have one).
One needs to go back the following day to pick up the certificate. The following day we received a call from our nearest health centre (Al Dayaan) and were told to pick up the certificate there instead of Umm Slal. We were suppose to take our passports with when picking up which I wish someone told us before. They were kind enough to allow us to digitally send it.
The pick up process took longer compared to the test.
The stressful part of the process was that, even though we were both NEGATIVE, my husbands Ehteraz went GREY as it can sometimes go grey because you went for a test (from what we understood). We were very worried when this happened. We showed his certificate at the airport entrance and thankfully it was all fine.
Private Clinics:
Private Clinics can now also do PCR test. The price depends on the clinic and they usually charge around Qar 500.
The ministry published the below list on its Twitter account. The health facilities approved are:
https://f6b017a1e1f0afe3156712548f7cb600.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html
List of private health facilities approved by MoPH for Covid-19 PCR test
11 Jan 2021 – 19:17
The Peninsula Online
Doha: Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has approved private health facilities in the country to conduct PCR test for Covid-19. Ministry periodically published the list adding new medical facilities which got approval for conducting the test.
The ministry published the list on its Twitter account.
The health facilities approved for PCR tests are as follows:
1) Al Emadi Hospital
2) Turkish Hospital
3) Doha Clinic Hospital
4) Al Ahli Hospital
5) Queen Hospital
6) Dr. Moopen’s Aster Hospital
7) Magrabi Center for Eye, ENT & Dental
8) Elite Medical Center
9) West Bay Medicare
10) Syrian American Medical Center
11) Future Medical Center
12) Dr. Khaled Al Sheikh Ali’s Medical Center
13) Al Jufairi Diagnosis and Treatment
14) Al Ahmadani Medical Center
15) Imara Health Care
16) KIMS Qatar Medical Center
17) Allevia Medical Center
18) Aster Medical Center Plus-Almuntazah
19) Al Jameel Medical Center
20) Atlas Medical Center
21) Al Tahrir Medical Center
22) Naseem AL Rabeeh Medical Center Doha
23) Naseem AL Rabeeh Medical Center
24) New Naseem AL Rabeeh Medical Center
25) Aster Medical Center-Alkhor
26) Al Kayyali Medical Center
27) Abeer Medical Center
28) Al Esraa Polyclinic
29) Value Medical Complex
30) Asian Medical Center W.L.L
31) Dr. Maher Abbas Polyclinic
32) Sidra medicine
33) Al Mansoor Polyclinic
34) Nova Health Care
35) Al Sultan Medical Center
36) Al Fardan Medical With Northwestern Medicine
37) Raha Medical Center W.L.L
38) Al-Shefa Polyclinic D-Ring Road
It is best to call ahead and verify if they are testing and the cost involved as this list is subject to change.
Public Centres:
Rawdat Al Khail and Umm Slal Health Centers are dedicated Covid-19 test & hold facilities.
Al Gharaffa Health Center was deactivated as a Covid-19 dedicated swab facility on December 13th 2020 and Muaither Health Center will also be deactivated as a Covid-19 dedicated swab facility from December 20th 2020.
It is best to call ahead and verify if they are testing as this list is subject to change.
*The above info is based on my experience. @newindoha is not responsible for any changes to the rules or information and requirements.
Please follow the guidelines sent by Qatar Airways.
Please reference only official resources such as the following:
www.moph.gov.qa
www.gco.gov.qa
www.moi.gov.qa
MoPH call center is available 24-7 and can be reached at 16000
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