Are you doing it at home, or at the airport? Is this the one required? Also, say I arrive at noon in Italy, which is 6:00 am my time. I have to take the test after 6:00 am my time the day before, correct?
Posted by
Paris
10341 posts
Do you mean the test that will count for your entry to Italy?
Posted by
OP
Indiana
1027 posts
Yes, the one I need for Italy.
Posted by
Southwest Florida
905 posts
My understanding is that you need to take the test 24 hours before the departure. If your flight is at 6am then you need to take the test after 6am on the day before. It is based on departure time, not arrival time. Others - please correct me if I am wrong but I'm pretty certain of this.
Posted by
Freedonia
16496 posts
Here is the information directly from the Italian government:
If you are arriving from the USA:
undergo a molecular swab carried out within 72 hours prior to entry into Italy and the result of which is negative, or an antigenic test carried out within 24 hours prior to entry into Italy, the result of which is negative. In the case of arrivals from the UK and Northern Ireland and British Isles, the molecular swab must be taken in the 48 hours prior to entering Italy
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16662 posts
Just for clarity, it can't be one of the unsupervised, over-the-counter home tests, right? If done at home, it has to be one of the tests which confirms the process/results via a supervised video call, yes?
Posted by
Paris
10341 posts
it can't be one of the unsupervised, over-the-counter home tests, right?
Indeed, it can not be. You can't walk up to the airline check-in counter with your little plastic test to show them. No one will gain authorization for entrance to Italy on that basis.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16662 posts
Thanks Kim, I was sure that was the case but when people mention testing at home, wanted to make sure no one was confused about what that meant.
Posted by
Gulf Coast, usa
1191 posts
Here is the link to the post Aimee was talking about
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/covid-test-to-enter-italy-timing-question
Posted by
OP
Indiana
1027 posts
If you have a 72 hour window with the Molecular test, why wouldn’t everyone be doing that?
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8958 posts
Lulu, two reasons. 1) the molecular test is said to be more sensitive 2) It can be a longer, unknown period of time to get your test results back with the molecular.
The proctored home test gives you immediate results (entire process takes about 20 minutes).
Posted by
SF Bay Area
79 posts
I found this to be a really helpful tool in calculating when to have my covid test so that it would be valid on my arrival in Rome. I traveled in October when the rapid antigen test was still able to be taken 72 hours before arrival instead of the current 24 hours.