This Hospital Service Provider Antigen Rapid Test Or Swab, How Much Does It Cost?

Bogor Regency COVID-19 Task Force during a rapid antigen test in the Puncak area. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The obligation to carry out an antigen rapid test for people who want to travel outside the city has made the demand for this corona virus diagnosis method increased.

In order to avoid excessive price speculation on the market, the government through the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has set an upper limit price of IDR 250 thousand for the Java region and IDR 275 thousand for outside Java. This amount tends to be cheaper when compared to the PCR swab diagnostic method, which is around Rp. 900 thousand.

Based on information compiled by VOI, the cheapest cost for carrying out an antigen rapid test is at 29 train stations spread across various points in Java. Meanwhile, the fee offered is IDR 105 thousand per person.

This affordable price is intended so that all prospective passengers who wish to use railroad services can meet the corona-free requirements before traveling.

Even though the station is a place for a relatively inexpensive rapid antigen test, in fact the diagnosis of COVID-19 is carried out by medical personnel in health facilities such as hospitals. The following are some of the hospitals that provide complete antigen rapid test services and the rates they charge.

Siloam Hospital Network

For people who intend to make a diagnosis of COVID-19, they can visit the Siloam Hospital network which is spread across various cities. Here, not only antigen rapid test services are offered, but also antibody rapid tests, PCR and isothermal molecular tests.

The price for the rapid antigen test is Rp. 249 thousand, Rp1,000 cheaper than the highest limit set by the government

Cendana Hospital

Cendana Hospital (formerly Puri Mandiri Kedoya Hospital) set a price for a rapid antigen test of IDR277 thousand. This amount can be increased depending on several inspection schemes to be implemented.

In releasing the test results, Cendana Hospital provided an official certificate that could be used according to the designation as stated in the previous administration process. The antigen rapid test service at this medical facility is valid seven days a week from 08.00 to 19.00.

Omni Hospital

Another hospital that is known to provide rapid antigen test services is the Omni Hospital network at a cost of IDR 250 thousand per person. For people who make a diagnosis here, the test results can be known after one or two working days.

Restu Kasih Hospital, Bogor

In this hospital, the community is charged between Rp. 249 thousand to Rp. 399 thousand for a rapid antigen test. The difference in the amount of the price given depends on the inspection scheme taken. The average test results at Restu Kasih Hospital Bogor can be seen 3 hours after the examination sampling.

The advantages of the rapid antigen test

The increasing use of the rapid antigen test is allegedly due to the relatively fast examination time and is accompanied by a good level of accuracy. The following are some of the advantages offered by the rapid antigen test compared to other methods, as reported on the Indonesia.go.id page.

1. Rapid diagnostic test results

2. Taking a simple sample test, namely through mucus in the nasal cavity and throat

3. Taking samples directly on the corona virus protein

4. Identify the focus on the active corona virus and not through the screening stage

5. The whole process is relatively short, namely 20 minutes to 30 minutes

6. Real time detection with an accuracy rate of up to 80 percent

Mandatory rapid antigen test

As mentioned earlier, the increasing number of people carrying out rapid antigen tests is caused by mandatory rules for those who wish to travel across regions. This mandate is contained in Circular Letter Number 1 of 2021 concerning Provisions for Domestic Travel during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

If traced, the necessity for a rapid antigen test procedure arises due to the high rate of transmission of the corona virus in the country. In its application, all users of transportation services, both land, sea and air, are required to complete the inspection with a negative alias negative result.

The results of the rapid antigen test itself are valid no later than 2 x 24 hours before departure as a travel requirement. Meanwhile, the PCR method is applied for a maximum of 3 x 24 hours.

As for people traveling across regions by land using private vehicles, the government only provides an appeal to carry out an antigen rapid test no later than 3 x 24 hours before departure.