With effect from 1 January 2023, the costs of COVID-19 tests will no longer be met by the Swiss Confederation. If you wish to take such a test, you will have to pay for it yourself. In exceptional cases, however, such costs will be met by your canton or your health insurance.
The Swiss Parliament resolved in December 2022 that from 1 January 2023 onwards, the costs of COVID-19 tests would no longer be met by the Swiss Confederation. So from 1 January 2023 onwards you must pay for such tests yourself.
Important exceptions:
- Your compulsory health insurance will pay the costs of any such tests individually ordered by a doctor if you have shown COVID-19 symptoms and the associated test diagnosis is needed to determine any therapy required – if, for instance, your doctor wishes to prescribe you COVID-19 antiviral medication. Any such payment will, however, be subject to your health insurance’s deductible and copayment provisions.
- The cantons may order COVID-19 testing to help protect the population. In such an event, the costs of such tests will be met by the cantons.
If you feel you are developing cold symptoms or wish to additionally protect yourself or others, you can continue to observe the basic principles presented on the ‘Protect yourself and others’ page and have yourself tested at your own expense. If you are at especially high risk and develop such symptoms, you should contact your doctor or another medical specialist, so that if you are likely to have contracted COVID-19, appropriate treatment with antiviral medication can be swiftly considered.
For further information please see our ‘Protection against flu’ page.
Where you can get tested
You can continue to get tested for coronavirus infection at your own expense. For information on the testing facilities available, please consult your canton’s website:
What types of test are available?
The range of different tests and their availability is evolving constantly. Below you will find an overview of the different types of test.
Types of test
Rapid antigen test for professional use
Serological test
Individual PCR test
A positive individual PCR test indicates that you are infected with the coronavirus. PCR tests can be performed by means of a combined nose and throat swab, a throat swab or a saliva sample. The result is generally available within 12 to 24 hours. The swab is performed by your doctor or at a hospital or test centre. The sample is then analysed in a licensed laboratory.
Pooled PCR test
In a pooled PCR test, the saliva samples of several people are combined into one pooled sample. The laboratory performs its analysis on this pooled sample. If the result of the pooled sample (or pool) is positive, individual samples must subsequently be analysed to identify which person within the pool is infected. For this purpose an individual PCR test or a rapid antigen test will be performed.
Rapid antigen test for professional use
Rapid antigen tests yield a result within 15 to 20 minutes. Like PCR tests, they determine whether you are infected with the coronavirus. The test is performed by means of a nose and throat swab. It cannot be performed on a saliva sample.
Antigen self-test
You can test yourself for the coronavirus by using an antigen self-test. You take the sample yourself with a nose swab, and can read the result yourself. The result of the test is available within 15 to 20 minutes. To carry out a self-test Follow follow the enclosed instructions on how to carry out a self-test. Self-tests can determine whether you are contagious at the time of the test.
N.B. Self-tests provide a less reliable result than PCR tests or rapid antigen tests. So even if a self-test result is negative, it is still possible that you are infected with the coronavirus and could pass it on to others. You may therefore wish to continue to observe the basic principles on our Protect yourself and others page.
The video below shows how a self-test is used. This is an example with one type of test. Please always follow the instructions for the specific brand of test you are using.
Serological test
Serological tests detect certain antibodies in the blood, in this case those produced to tackle the coronavirus. The presence of a person’s own antibodies indicates that they have already been in contact with the virus or have been vaccinated. Serological tests are very useful for studies of the population, for example to observe the evolution of population immunity.
An antibody test that is currently positive indicates that the person taking it has recovered from COVID-19 and/or has antibodies. It does not, however, give any indication as to how long ago the infection took place.
COVID-19 certificates continue to be issued free of charge.
At present, it is not possible to draw any conclusions from the results of an antibody test about how immune protection will develop over time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Last modification 24.02.2023