Entrepreneurs Claire McDevitt and Jennifer Burland Adams today launched Fit to Fly BDA, a response to the Bermuda Health Council’s recent call for more certified antigen test providers.

The women met when they were chosen for the second cohort of business accelerator Ignite Bermuda, in 2020. They were also selected to work with the third cohort as resident advisers. They credit Ignite for the way they were able to launch Fit to Fly BDA so quickly.

“I read in The Royal Gazette that the Bermuda Health Council was looking for more service providers to meet the needs of travellers and locals seeking registered antigen tests, and sent Claire a message that day saying ‘New venture opportunity?’,” Ms Burland Adams said.

They connected later that day, reserving their URL almost immediately.

“We have been working really hard ever since to bring this to market and provide an easy, secure, trusted testing service,” Ms Burland Adams said.

Ms McDevitt started Healthcare Solutions in 2019 focusing on medical organisational management and staffing solutions after 25 years as a nurse, medical administrator and project manager.

Both she and Healthcare Solutions are registered with the Bermuda Health Council. She saw this as a natural expansion of services.

“Even though regulations on travel and testing seem to change by the week, we know that schools, companies and countries will likely require certified testing for Covid-19 for the foreseeable future,” Ms McDevitt said.

“We also know, through customer discovery that people want a quick and convenient solution. Fit to Fly BDA is that solution.”

On Fit to FlyBDA’s website, customers can easily book up to four people at a time for a certified antigen test, at a time convenient for them. When it is time for their appointment, they join Fit to Fly BDA’s online video platform where a medical professional will guide them through the process of taking the antigen test and will verify their result.

Within about two hours, sometimes sooner, a certificate will be e-mailed to the customer.

Pricing depends on a number of factors. A single test costs $50, but if you have two or three people at the same appointment, the charge is $45 each. A family of four is $40 each. For those needing a last-minute test, there is a surcharge of $25.

Catering to locals and visitors alike, Fit to Fly BDA aims to be the testing provider of choice for travellers to and from Bermuda and is looking to form partnerships with international event organisers.

“We know that people have choices for their certified antigen tests,” Ms Burland Adams said. “One thing that sets us apart is that you can use any test which is on the Bermuda Health Council’s approved list.

“At this point I think everyone has a stock at home to choose from.”

A portion of the monthly proceeds will be given to a local non-profit, offering educational experiences to tourists.

“Supporting local non-profit is important to Fit to Fly BDA and we see the synergy of providing a service to visitors and sharing some of the profit with those organisations which rely on visitors for part of their revenue,” she said.