Hello, my mother is flying into Malpensa from a list D country while transiting through a list E country, and currently the Italian gov website says travellers must undergo a "molecular *OR* antigenic swab carried out within 72 hours prior to entry into Italy and the result of which is negative". I just wanted to be 100% sure that it's ok for her to take the antigen test (throat swabs) over the RT-PCR test; I am wary of telling her that the antigen test is ok (PCR test is 4 times more expensive where she is).
Furthermore, concerning the 72 hour test validity, I read on the Malpensa website "it is mandatory to undergo a swab test for COVID-19 in the 72 hours *prior to boarding*" --> 72 hours prior to boarding sounds very different from "72 hours prior to entry into Italy" as per salute.gov.it. How does one accurately calculate the 72 hour period? is it required that the test be conducted 72 hours from the time her flight arrives at Malpensa? or is it 72 hours prior to departure (which is what I also read on https://www.etiasitaly.com/pcr-test-entry-italy/). thanks for your help..