The pandemic is making things very difficult for all of us. Constant changes to border policies force us to keep up to date, especially now, with the possibility of further outbreaks.
The epidemiological situation in each country is changing, and measures may be introduced overnight to implement the trip that we had planned or that we would be asked to carry out the PCR test in an attempt to enter the country.
In Spain, the ability to perform coronavirus tests has increased in recent weeks, with almost 6 million tests carried out.
What is a PCR test?
PCR tests are diagnostic tests used since the early days of the pandemic in China. The PCR (short for “polymerase chain reaction”) tests have been used for years in public health emergencies involving infectious diseases. PCR testing relies on the heat stability of a polymerase enzyme.
With cheaper PCR tests, usually costing around 100 euros, results arrive within 48 hours. More expensive tests provide results within 12 hours.
Rapid tests have recently been incorporated and, as their name suggests, are faster and simpler. Both are used to check whether or not a person is infected by Covid-19.
Where can you get one, and how much does it cost?
The central government has delegated the conduct of tests to each Autonomous Community and each one must manage the monitoring of the level of transmission in order to prevent the risks with which citizens can go to the approved public health centres. In addition, Spain has many private laboratories with the capacity to analyze PCR tests of possible Covid-19 cases.
Spain has more than 200 laboratories equipped to perform PCR tests.
Spain also has almost 200 laboratories able to carry out around 90 thousand PCR tests daily. Each autonomous community determines the use of antibody or rapid tests with more than reasonable prices from 99 €.
| Autonomous community | Number per day | No. of labs |
 ANDALUCÍA |
3.700 | 17 |
 ARAGÓN |
3.000 | 9 |
 ASTURIAS |
4.000 | 4 |
 BALEARIC ISLANDS |
2.000 | 4 |
 CANARY ISLANDS |
2.600 | 37 |
 CANTABRIA |
2000 | 3 |
 CASTILE–LA MANCHA |
1.500 | 10 |
 CASTILE AND LEÓN |
6.110 | 15 |
 CATALONIA |
18.500 | 18 |
 CEUTA |
400 | 1 |
 VALENCIAN COMMUNITY |
7.700 | 15 |
 EXTREMADURA |
1.600 | 3 |
 GALICIA |
6.500 | 8 |
 MADRID |
15.000 | 39 |
 MELILLA |
58 | 1 |
 MURCIA |
2.600 | 6 |
 NAVARRE |
3.500 | 2 |
 BASQUE COUNTRY |
6.450 | 5 |
 LA RIOJA |
1.500 | 1 |
| Total | 88.718 | 198 |
If you have a PCR test at a private laboratory without a referral authorising it from your primary care doctor, the certificate issued by the testing clinic may cost around 10 euros.