My Rapid Test Experience Before Traveling

These days in order to travel with train or plane in Indonesia, travelers are required to show flu free symptoms or a rapid antibody test result. However, these tests don't account for asymptomatic travelers or even show an active covid-19. Essentially, it's only the first screening before PCR test and to show if you had it before. Anyhow to follow the rule, I registered myself for rapid test 7 hours before my departure.

The night before, I was already researching where, how, and what to fill in the form. On youtube, apart from finding out what I needed, I found some more nightmare-ish story about the test result. There were also plenty youtubers showing ways to "hack" the test when you have slight dizziness or common cold. I read up through the comment section and some of them were asking plenty what ifs questions.In the end, these research costed me anxiety; I was afraid I might have gotten Covid-19.

The following morning, with little sleep I had, I was having a class which lasted for 2 hours. Just as I thought I would have only sit and listen, I was required to present the result from my group work. My brain was divided between school, packing, and the rapid test-scare.

Rapid test is administered in clinics, public healthcare, or hospitals. The cost of doing rapid test varies starting from 150.000 IDR to above. However, the rapid test done in train station cost 85.000 IDR so it's much cheaper and also quicker.

The first step to do rapid test in the train station is showing the ticket. Then, the officer will check your temperature. Next, you will be given a form that you have fill containing some basic personal information such as name, age, phone number, e-mail.

After filling out form above, you will be directed to the payment counter. All you have to do is pay 85.000 IDR in cash. Shortly after, you handed in the form and wait for the roll call to get your test done.

As shown above, mine is 175 and it was at around 1 PM. So in a day, I could roughly estimate there are about 200-250 people doing rapid test. It was my turn after waiting for 20 minutes.

I was called into a small chamber with the lab technician. She asked me if that was my first time doing the antibody test. She also asked how to spell my name; it is always complicated but I didn't want to complicate it so I'll let her say whatever. They took a small drop of my blood and put it in the stick.

In the end, she could pronounce my name correctly when calling me for the result of the test.

Here's the result of my test :

Below the result there are some notes if you have non-reactive symptoms. It says some basic Covid19 protocols such as physical distancing, eat balanced diet, and do another test within 7-10 days after the first test.

In the check in counter, you have to show the rapid test result and the ticket.After showing the ticket and the rapid test, you will be given a box of face shield that you have to wear inside the train. Also, another note is that you are only allowed to enter the train station exactly 3 hours before your departure. So make sure to calculate the time properly.