Use This Mini-Program to Guarantee a Fast Covid Test Near You

This morning when word went out about mass testing required today and every other day this week for Chaoyang District, my WeChat moments was inundated with photos of long lines and people waiting it out in said long lines.

Wishing to avoid these lines and to make sure I didn’t end up at a testing location that doesn't accepted foreign passport holders, I went to a mini-program a friend of mine had recommended a while back. Using this, I was able to schedule and pay for a test, zip through, and be done with it in a matter of minutes.

The mini-program in question is run by C&J Medical (尤禧医学检验实验室 Yóuxǐ Yīxué Jiǎnyàn Shíyànshì), a medical lab specializing in testing services in Beijing.

Once you search it in WeChat or find the mini-program, using it is pretty straightforward. To schedule a test, all you’ve got to do is go to “Services” and click 核酸检测 Hésuān Jiǎncè on the pop up menu.

From there, you’ll be taken to a page showing the nearest testing location. You can either find a different location on their map feature (just follow 切换站点 Qiēhuàn Zhàndiǎn near the address up top) or click on 爱心检测 Àixīn Jiǎncè to be taken to the registration page.

This page will ask for all your info -- full name, passport, date of birth, etc. The best part is, once you’ve registered once, it’ll remember your info for future tests. After entering the info, click “Next” and you’ll be asked to pay (it ranges from RMB 24.90).

Once you’ve paid the bill, you’ll be given a bar code that can be accessible at any time. To find it, just go to “Services”, 我的 Wǒ de, and 预约订单 Yùyuē Dìngdān to view the reservation and bar code (you’ll be asked to scan a QR code to verify before getting tested).

Then, it’s just about getting there when it’s not testing rush hour in order to get in and out quick. I arrived at 8.15am to no line at all, but leading up to 9am a line formed around the block, whereas my colleages who used C&J encountered long lines but told me the wait only took five minutes.

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Images: Vincent R. Vinci