We are going to Italy in May. We are staying at the Rome Airport Hilton on May 24 for our flight out at 10:00AM on May 25. We arrive at FCO at 2:00 of the 24th by train. I am assuming the best thing would be to get tested right there at the airport before going on to the hotel. I am wondering what are the advantages and disadvantages of doing what I described above versus getting one of those self-testing proctored tests? What is the best Self-testing proctored test to use? Do you need to make an appointment? This whole testing for re-entry is really stressing me out on many levels. Has anyone heard anything about the possibility of this requirement being lifted? Thanks so much, this forum has been so valuable.
Posted by
1230 posts
Im sure there will be many responses with more insight than mine, but you will find this topic answered over and over. The self-test (proctored) is from Abbott and called Binax NOW. You could try searching that in the "search" bar above. I believe you register with them and schedule a time to be proctored (in your case that could be May 24 once you get to the hotel and have wifi). You order the tests before you depart for Italy, and register with the testing/proctor service. I believe you can purchase 6 tests for $150. Then you film yourself (or family members take turns holding the camera on the person taking the test) and the company sends you an email with a QR code showing that you tested negative that you can use at the airport. I think some ppl are concerned that getting tested at the airport could result - if you test positive - in a mandatory quarantine. That said, who knows what the policies will be by the end of May (all airlines are pleading to eliminate masks by April 18, so maybe testing will follow). Im returning from Italy in July and the above is my plan, but Im waiting to purchase until June
Posted by
ATL, USA
543 posts
I used the Binax Now kit just the other day. I bought a three pack from eMed. Super easy to do in my hotel room. I've used another brand of kit too: https://www.cityhealth.com/rapidreturn/
Neither kit required an appointment; it was easy to follow the instructions; for each a proctor was available within one minute, for each my results were in my email within a minute after the test was complete.
The one annoyance of Binax Now is that the PDF of results requires you to put your date of birth in every time you want to review the results. I wound up just taking a screenshot of them.
I know the federal mask mandate is up for review in the next few weeks and I would imagine if they don't renew that they will drop the testing requirement as well.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7921 posts
Hi, I have the exact same situation the end of June - staying at the Rome Hilton Airport hotel my last night, coming from Perugia. I’m considering stopping at a pharmacy near the Rome Termini station on my way before taking the train to the Hilton. I figured that might give me more options than an unknown queue of people at the airport testing area.