COVID-19 (New coronavirus) PCR TESTING
Who can take the test?
As part of our English consultation services, we offer COVID-19 PCR testing for people who need a test certificate. Please note, this is not a service for those who have active symptoms of COVID-19, such as a fever, cough or difficulty breathing or who have had such symptoms in the past two weeks. People who have or have had such symptoms should consult the Coronavirus Consultation Center at 0120-565653 (9 a.m. – 9 p.m., open on weekdays and weekends, and holidays).
How is the test conducted?
All specimens collected via nasal vestibule swab (98% sensitivity) by 5pm of the testing day (1 p.m. on Saturday) will be analyzed with results available as PDF and TIFF attached files by email or a printout certificate by 3 PM on the next day. (For example, tests taken by 5 PM on Monday will have certificates available by 3PM on Tuesday). If the following day is weekends, expedited, one day result certificates are available at an additional charge (For example, test taken by 5 PM on Friday will have certificates available around 5 PM on Saturday, sent by email as PDF and TIFF files). The test result arrival time may be delayed if the total number of the test conducted in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area is high on a given day. Be aware, if you miss the daily sample collection time (5 p.m. from Mon. to Fri. and 1 p.m. on Sat.), there is no more collection on that day, so we advise you to come earlier than the scheduled appointment.
The test fees
The costs for the COVID-19 PCR testing service are:
PCR test (If you do not need a signed certificate, a printed test result is available.) :
15,000 yen + tax * (25,000 yen + tax on Saturdays/days before holidays)
If you only need the test result in English or Japanese, there is no other charge and you will receive the result on the next day (or the first weekday) around 3 p.m.
We check your passport before the PCR test.
If the test result reveals positive, your certificate will say so and you will receive the result by e-mail only. (You may not come to the clinic.)
Certificate in English/Japanese on the next day (or the first weekday) at 5 p.m.:
PCR test (15,000 yen) + 5,000 yen + tax *
Expedited fee of certificate in English/Japanese for one day processing (collecting specimen by 12:30 in the afternoon on Saturday (or by 5:00 in the afternoon on the day before holidays) and issuing the certificate around 5 p.m. on Sunday (or around 5 p.m. on the holiday) as an attached PDF file sent by email) :
PCR test (15,000 yen or 25,000 yen as specified above) + 10,000 yen + tax *
* Not covered by Japanese Health Insurance
Laboratory test result in English
Please note that most countries require the PCR negative certificate in English , but not the laboratory test result. If you still desire to have the laboratory test result in English, the following additional charges apply.
If you take the PCR test on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, you can receive the laboratory test result in English 2 days later around 4 p.m. without additional charge. In case you need the laboratory test result in English on the next day around 3 p.m. (or 5 p.m. on weekends), you can receive the test result in Japanese with English translation, signed by the director of the clinic with the additional charge of 10,000 yen plus tax.
If you take the test on Thursday, you can receive the laboratory test result in English on the following Monday (or the first weekday) around 4 p.m. without additional charge. In case you need the test result in English on Friday around 3 p.m., you can receive the test result in Japanese with English translation, signed by the director of the clinic with the additional charge of 10,000 yen plus tax.
If you take the test on Friday, you can receive the laboratory test result in English on the following Monday (or the first weekday) around 4 p.m. without additional charge. In case you need the test result in English on Saturday around 5 p.m., you can receive the test result in Japanese with English translation, signed by the director of the clinic with the additional charge of 13,000 yen plus tax.
If you take the test on Saturday, you can receive the laboratory test result in English on the following Monday (or the first weekday) around 4 p.m. without additional charge. In case you need the test result in English on Sunday around 5 p.m., you can receive the test result in Japanese with English translation, signed by the director of the clinic with the additional charge of 15,000 yen plus tax.
Reservations
Reservations are required. Please call us within our office hours.
A valid email address is necessary to receive the test result.
What are described in the certificate?
The certificate will show the issuing date, the name of the certificate (i.e. Certificate of PCR test for COVID-19), your name, date of birth, sex, nationality, mode of specimen collection and test (i.e. nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 screening using real-time PCR assay), specimen collection time (Japan standard time), specimen collection date, the result of the test (i.e. negative or positive), the name of the test device (Cobas® 8800 System), the name of the laboratory (LSI Medience Corporation), the name of the clinic that the test is conducted (i.e. Takadanobaba Dermatology & Plastic Surgery), printed name and signature of the medical doctor conducting the test, address of the clinic, phone number, and email address.
In case the test result turns out to be re-test/positive
The test result could be saying "re-test" and the re-test result will arrive 2 days later around 1-3 p.m. We will inform you by e-mail saying that your initial result turns out to be "re-test." If the re-test result is negative, you may receive the email after the final report arrives in case you signed up for the expedited service. If you signed up for the regular service, you can pick up your certificate and test result during the regular office hour after the final result arrives. If the final result is positive, the result and the certificate saying that will be sent by e-mail as soon as the result is confirmed, and the following rules applies.
In case the test result turns out to be positive, the certificate is available by PDF and TIFF files attached to an email. You will not be allowed to re-enter the clinic until 2 weeks after further test elsewhere turns to be negative. Please consult the Coronavirus Consultation Center at 0120-565653 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., open on weekdays and weekends, and holidays).