Multi Medica
Useful Information

Quantitative serological test CLIA method

These are tests that detect the presence in the serum (a part of the blood) of antibodies (Immunoglobulins, Ig) produced by the immune system to defend itself from what comes from outside (Antigens), and that can be a threat, such as SARS-CoV-2 and therefore indicate whether or not a subject has come into contact with an infectious agent.
The quantitative serological test with CLIA method is done through a venous sampling from the arm performed by a nurse and a subsequent laboratory analysis of the blood tube with CLIA method carried out at the authorized laboratory of the MultiMedica Group: the Polo Scientifico Tecnologico of Milan. These tests, in addition to detecting the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies, also measure the amount of IgG.
The antibodies called “IgM” are produced in the initial phase of the infection, are found in the blood from 3 to 6 days after the onset of symptoms and then tend to disappear within a few weeks. The other antibodies, called “IgG”, are produced later and are found in the blood starting from a couple of weeks after the onset of symptoms (but may appear even earlier) and should then remain for a long time.
The serological test can therefore provide the following results:

  • IgM and IgG negative: there has been no infection, or exposure to the pathogen occurred too recently and no detectable immune reaction has yet developed, or the level of antibodies produced is too low to be detected by the test;
  • only IgM positive: exposure to the antigen is very recent.
  • IgM and IgG positive: the infection is ongoing and has been contracted recently;
  • Only IgG positive: the infection has been there but is not recent.
To whom is the IgG test addressed?
  • Those who want to verify if they have been in contact with the virus in the past and therefore have already developed neutralizing antibodies.
  • Those who have already completed the SARS – CoV-2 vaccine (both doses) and want to verify the subsequent production of antibodies (and their relative duration, through repeated measurements over time).

Depending on the results, other tests may be needed to arrive at an accurate diagnosis.

  • Ospedale San Giuseppe – Via San Vittore, 12 – Milan
    from Monday to Friday from 7.00 am to 11.00 am Saturday from 8.00 am to 11.00 am.
    Go to the electronic ticket machine located in the central ACCEPTANCE area and select the options “BLOOD COLLECTION” and then “SOLVENT COLLECTION” and then pay the amount at the counter.
  • IRCCS MultiMedica – Via Milanese, 300 – Sesto san Giovanni (MI) –
    from Monday to Friday from 7.00 am to 11.00 am, Saturday from 7.00 am to 10.30 am.
    Go to the electronic ticket machine located at the PRELIEVAL ROOM and select the options “PRELIEVAL” and then “SOLVENT PRELIEVAL” and then pay the fee at the counter.
  • Ospedale MultiMedica Castellanza
    from the monday to the friday from the hours 7.00. to the hours 11.00 – the saturday from the hours 7.00 to the hours 11.00.
    Go to the electronic ticket machine located at the PRELIEVAL ROOM and select the options “PRELIEVAL” and then “SOLVENT PRELIEVAL” and then pay the fee at the counter.
  • Ambulatorio Multispecialistico MultiMedica of via San Barnaba 29 – Milan – from Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 9.30.
    Admission as per indications in the structure

You don’t need to make a reservation, just go to one of the above MultiMedica Group’s offices without any commitment (it is a solvency service).

The test report is available within 24h – max 48h (working) after the examination. It is possible to obtain the report in 3 ways:

  • personally by collecting the paper report at the test point located at the entrance of the MultiMedica facility where the test was performed, or by a person other than the patient with a special proxy issued by the patient
  • by downloading online from the www.multimedica.it website, after registering on the same site in the section “Prenotazione e referti on line”;
  • through access to the Electronic Health File (Fascicolo Sanitario Elettronico – FSE) Regione Lombardia, after accessing in a protected and confidential way, through the use of the tools referred to in Article 64 of Legislative Decree no. 82 of March 7, 2005, “Digital Administration Code”.

No, there is no need for fasting and no need to stop taking medications.

Regional regulations in force foresee that, in case of a POSITIVE test result for IgM and/or IgG, the possible contagiousness of the patient must be verified by searching for viral RNA with a molecular technique (i.e. execution of an oro-pharyngeal swab).

In case of POSITIVE result to the serological test (presence of IgM and/or IgG), the patient must, therefore,

  • submit autonomously to the precautionary home isolation measure until the negative result of the molecular test (gold-pharyngeal swab), as well as
  • submit as soon as possible to the execution of an oro-pharyngeal swab for viral RNA research.

For details on how to behave during the period of fiduciary isolation, the patient should contact his or her primary care physician.

The legislation also requires that, in the case of a POSITIVE result to the serological test, the patient’s data, the test report, the date of the start of the isolation of trust and the date scheduled for the performance of the oro-phragygeal swab are communicated by the laboratory of MultiMedica to the ATS of competence of the patient.