COVID-19 Testing at Medical Hub @ RMIT

COVID- 19 Testing at Medical Hub @ RMIT

Home » Services » COVID-19 Testing

We continue to encourage anyone experiencing respiratory symptom…

Need a negative COVID PCR test to travel or for work?

We continue to encourage anyone experiencing respiratory symptoms to be tested at a DHHS testing centre (not Medical Hub @ RMIT) and stay at home.

Fees:

  • Medical hub @ RMIT is offering a screening of asymptomatic patients for a private fee of $150.
  • No weekend testing is available, ONLY Monday to Thursday.

This has been particularly helpful to those travelling internationally / overseas who require a negative COVID-19 departure test to be granted entry into their destination. There is no Medicare or other rebate on this fee.

Asymptomatic Covid-19 testing and certificate distribution is not available outside of practice hours.

Call To Book Appointment With Nurse

Travelling to or through the United Arab Emirates

As announced by Etihad and Emirates airlines, all passengers flying to or through Dubai must present a negative COVID-19 test to be admitted onto their flight. There are four main conditions that a traveller must fulfil to fly:

  • Your certificate must be printed, SMS will not be accepted
  • The type of test performed must be a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
  • The test must be taken a maximum of 96 hours before departure (excluding children under 12 and passengers who have a moderate to severe disability)
  • The test must be performed at a designated laboratory

Medical Hub @ RMIT meets all of the above conditions, which we will expand upon below.

Printed certificates

Medical Hub @ RMIT provides a certificate that will be emailed to you as soon as we have your test results back. You can print this certificate and take it to your flight.

Polymerase Chain Reaction Tests

The tests that Medical Hub @ RMIT provide are real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests (in contrast to serology antibody tests).

96 hours before departure

Medical Hub @ RMIT has the capacity, depending on Victorian testing volumes at the time, to provide test results within 24 – 36 hours of the swab being administered.

Designated Laboratory

In Australia Medical Hub @ RMIT is considered a trusted and certified provider and are able to provide reliable test results for flights.

Book Online

Travelling to Thailand

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, those who are flying to and from Thailand are required to present the following:

  • Fit to fly Health Certificate (GP).  A health certificate written by a doctor that confirms your fitness to fly.
  • Fit to Fly COVID-19 certificate

The health certificate must state that the passenger was “Fit to Fly”.

You can book online for both of these documents or call our practice for more information.

More information is available at: https://thaiest.com/blog/fit-to-fly-health-certificate-for-travelers-to-thailand

7 easy steps to get tested

Step 1: Simply schedule a 15 appointment with the Practice Nurse AND a 15min appointment with a GP by calling 03 9999-2778 or by making a booking here.
Step 2: Attend for your appointment, answer some screening questions and have your temperature checked at reception. Please wear a mask.
Step 3: Wait at the front of the practice for our reception team to greet you.
Step 4: Our Practice nurse will take a brief history. In a separate appointment a GP will undertake an examination and issue a Fit-to-Fly Health certificate.
Step 5: Our Pathology collector will undertake the COVID-19 swab
Step 6: Settle accounts at reception
Step 7: Our Practice Nurse will contact you when the results are finalised and email you a copy of the results and a certificate. You are welcome to collect a hard copy if you do not have access to a printer, as a hard copy will be required to fly. Schedule a telehealth consultation with the practice nurse for 2 days time for your results. Expected turn around times for results are up to 48 hours, although this may vary depending on Victorian testing volumes at the time. A certificate will be issued and a copy of the results attached and emailed to you.

Travelling to Thailand: Non-nationals

Non-nationals travelling to Thailand require a Fit to Fly Health Certificate in addition to the Fit to Fly Covid-19 certificate. The Health Certificate, also known as Fit to Travel letter, must be issued by a Doctor following medical examination, no more than 72 hours prior to travel. This consultation and letter does not attract a Medicare or other rebate.

More information is available at: https://thaiest.com/blog/fit-to-fly-health-certificate-for-travelers-to-thailand

7 easy steps to get tested

Step 1: Simply schedule a 15 appointment with the Practice Nurse AND a 15min appointment with a GP by calling 03 9999-2778 or by making a booking here.
Step 2: Attend for your appointment, answer some screening questions and have your temperature checked at reception. Please wear a mask.
Step 3: Wait at the front of the practice for our reception team to greet you.
Step 4: Our Practice nurse will take a brief history. In a separate appointment a GP will undertake an examination and issue a Fit-to-Fly Health certificate.
Step 5: Our Pathology collector will undertake the COVID-19 swab
Step 6: Settle accounts at reception
Step 7: Our Practice Nurse will contact you when the results are finalised and email you a copy of the results and a certificate. You are welcome to collect a hard copy if you do not have access to a printer, as a hard copy will be required to fly. Schedule a telehealth consultation with the practice nurse for 2 days time for your results. Expected turn around times for results are up to 48 hours, although this may vary depending on Victorian testing volumes at the time. A certificate will be issued and a copy of the results attached and emailed to you.

Book Online
Call To Book Appointment With Nurse

FAQs 

WHAT IS COVID-19 AND HOW IS IT CAUSED?
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a new form of Coronaviruses. It was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan City in China. There is NO vaccination or cure for this disease as yet.
 
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19?
The symptoms include: fever, respiratory symptoms (coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose), headache, muscle or joint pains, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, loss of sense of smell, altered sense of taste, loss of appetite and fatigue.
 
HOW IS COVID-19 CONTRACTED?
Health authorities around the world believe the virus is spread via contact with an infected person, mostly through face-to-face or between members of the same household.
It is spread by an infectious person when they cough or sneeze, and a person who is positive can transmit the disease up to 48hrs before they even have symptoms.
COVID-19 can also be picked up from surfaces contaminated by a person with the infection.
 
HOW CAN COVID-19 IMPACT AN ORGANISATION?
People with a confirmed COVID-19 infection stay in quarantine until they are no longer experiencing symptoms. Before they are released from quarantine, their doctor or specialist care team assesses they are no longer infectious.
People who have had close contact with a confirmed case will also need to self isolate for 14 days.
 
Studies suggest that COVID-19 may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. This may vary under different conditions such as the type of surface, temperature or humidity of the environment. A positive diagnosis of an employee could mean temporary closure for commercial infection control and cleaning.
 
WILL THE SWAB HURT?
The swab can sometimes be a little uncomfortable. The swab is taken from the throat and both nostrils. It is important that the appropriate areas are swabbed in order to maximise the accuracy of the test.
 
WHY CAN’T EVERYONE BE TESTED AT A GOVERNMENT TESTING CLINIC?
The criteria for Government funded testing is rapidly changing as the pandemic impacts Victoria. Only those with respiratory symptoms or close contacts of a positive case currently qualify for government funded testing.
 
For up to date information, please refer to https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-self-assessment Those who do not fulfil the criteria for government funded testing can be tested for a private fee of $160 + GST (asymptomatic testing).
 
IS THE COST OF THE TEST COVERED BY MEDICARE OR PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE?
The fee associated with the COVID-19 test is not covered by Medicare or Private Health Insurance. Those who qualify for the government funded screening must attended a nominated DHHS screening clinic. Anyone else requesting testing for personal, professional or travel reasons are required to pay the private fee which is non-rebatable.
 
WHAT IF I HAVE  RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS?

Anyone with respiratory symptoms should stay at home and get tested through the government programme.

CAN I HAVE A INFLUENZA (FLU) VACCINE AT THE SAME TIME AS A COVID-19 VACCINE? 

The commencement of the Covid-19 vaccination rollout will overlap with the 2021 flu vaccination programs. A minimum 14 days is required between Flu vaccination and Covid-19 vaccinations. The doctor and nurse will check this with you on the day of vaccination. For more information on Covid-19 and flu vaccinations, peruse the Department of Health website.

https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-atagi-advice-on-influenza-and-covid-19-vaccines 

Our location

We are conveniently located in Melbourne CBD. If you require an asymptomatic COVID-19 test in Melbourne’s CBD then please book in and stop by.

Address

RMIT University, Building 8 Level 3/368-374 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000