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Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Antibody Tests

covid-19

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Antibody Test

Now Offering Coronavirus Antibody Testing!

Commonly Asked Questions

Am I a good candidate for testing?

Anyone who is interested in testing is a good candidate for antibody testing as long as they have not experienced a fever within the last three days. If a person has experienced any of the following symptoms in the last 10 days it is recommended that they wait the appropriate time until coming to the facility for testing: loss of smell or taste, shortness of breath, dry cough, feeling weak or lethargic, lightheadedness or dizziness, vomiting or diarrhea, slurred speech, and/or seizures.

We ask that you please take the precaution of wearing a face mask or covering, such as a scarf or bandana, when you come to the testing site to help protect our staff from possible infection.

Who qualifies for approved testing?
  • An individual is symptomatic or has a history of symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g. fever, cough, and/or trouble breathing), particularly if the individual is 70 years of age or older, the individual has a compromised immune system, or the individual has an underlying health condition)
  • An individual has had close (i.e. within six feet) or proximate contact with a person known to be positive with COVID-19
  • An individual is subject to a precautionary or mandatory quarantine
  • An individual is employed as a health care worker, first responder, or other essential worker who directly interacts with the public while working
*Can I pay by using my health insurance?

Currently, we are accepting all major health insurance plans including Medicaid for payment.

The following cash payments are also accepted:

  • Credit Cards
  • Debit Cards
  • Health Savings accounts (HSAs)
  • Flex Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Can I order this test to be used for my children?

Yes, the use of our antibody test kit is appropriate to use for minors if a parent or guardian has given consent to do so. When a minor comes to the facility for testing, they must be accompanied by an adult or guardian otherwise they will not be allowed testing services.

Can I place a bulk order of the COVID-19 test kit for my workforce?

Yes, if you would like to order the test kit in a large quantity we do offer in-bulk orders. To place a bulk order of COVID-19 antibody test kits please send an email to [email protected] to learn more about how to order our test kit in bulk. 

How accurate is the COVID-19 antibody test?

The accuracy of the COVID-19 serology blood test is measured in two different ways, sensitivity and specificity. Sensitivity is outlined by the tests ability to correctly identify if an individual’s blood has the antibodies (true positive), while specificity outlines the tests ability to identify if an individual’s blood does not have the antibodies (true negative). Independent studies done by Abbott Labs, Quest Diagnostics and the University of Washington have shown that the specificity of the test is 99.6% and the sensitivity is 100%. This data proves that this is the most accurate COVID-19 antibody test available at the moment.

The test is currently authorized to be performed and advertised by the FDA and is based on a recent testing system from Abbott. The testing system runs on the Abbott ARCHITECT i1000SR and i2000SR laboratory instruments.

How can I get my COVID-19 antibody testing results?

When your test results have been processed you will receive an email with instructions for how to access our patient portal to view your results. Our patient portal is HIPAA-compliant and secure for all patients.

How long will it take to get my COVID-19 antibody test results?

Results are generally processed within 24 hours of the blood draw, but in rare cases it may take up to 2 days to receive your results. Result processing times vary depending on increased demand and number of tests being processed.

Do I have to fast before getting tested?

No, fasting is not a requirement of our COVID-19 serology blood test.

Does the marketing of this test have FDA approval?

The FDA is authorized to perform and market the COVID-19 antibody test. The test is currently authorized to be performed and advertised by the FDA and is based on a recent testing system from Abbott. The testing system runs on the Abbott ARCHITECT i1000SR and i2000SR laboratory instruments, which can run around 100-200 tests per hour.

The test first became available through Abbott as a portion of the US-FDA notification process without an Emergency Use Authorization process that is in, “Policy for Diagnostic Test for Coronavirus Disease – 2019 during the Public Health Emergency – Immediately in Effect Guidance for Clinical Laboratories, commercial manufacturers, and Food and Drug Administration Staff.” This process was put into action on March 16th 2020, and the FDA recognized the marketing and distribution of the serology test on April 13th, 2020.

The COVID-19 serology blood tests accuracy is measured in two different categories, sensitivity and specificity. Sensitivity shows the tests ability to correctly identify the antibodies within an individual’s blood (true positive), while specificity outlines the tests ability to correctly identify if an individual’s blood does not have the antibodies (true negative). Privately conducted studies done by Abbott Labs, Quest Diagnostics and the University of Washington have shown that the specificity of the test is 99.6% and the sensitivity is 100%. This data proves that this is the most accurate and best COVID-19 antibody test available at the moment.

Is this test done with a blood test or a swab?

The COVID-19 antibody test is done through the collection of blood from an individual’s arm. The test will detect COVID-19 IgG antibodies in the bloodstream of the patient, indicating whether or not the patient has been previously exposed to the COVID-19 infection. Symptoms may not be shown for up to 14 days after exposure to the virus, but antibodies begin developing within 8-13 days of contracting the virus. Even if you were asymptomatic, your blood could still contain antibodies from the infection.

Can I take the COVID-19 antibody test at home?

No, the test requires you to be present at one of our test sites to have your blood drawn. 

What does ‘anti-body testing’ mean?

A serology blood test, or antibody test, is a test done on your blood to indicate whether or not your immune system has responded to COVID-19 (also known as coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2). If your test results come back as positive to the antibody IgG, it will be indicative of a previous exposure to COVID-19 and the development of antibodies against it.

Do you think you’ve had Corona Virus?
Click here for a televideo appointment.

Please fill out this form to request contact for an antibody test

About Our COVID-19 Antibody Test

An antibody test, or a serology blood test, is a test that will identify the presence of antibodies in an individual’s blood. The presence of said antibodies will help indicate whether a person has been previously infected with COVID-19 (also known as coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2). A positive serology test result may be indicative of previous exposure to COVID-19 because your body will have produced antibodies against it.

While symptoms of COVID-19 may take up to 14 days to arise, around 91% of people develop antibodies to fight the virus within the first 8-13 days of infection. Although some individuals may be asymptomatic, antibodies will still be detected in the blood during a serology blood test. It is thought that the presence of antibodies might provide some defense against later infections, but data has not shown conclusive results thus far.

Antibody tests should not be confused with nasopharyngeal swab testing which determines if you are currently affected by COVID-19. The goal of antibody testing is to see if your body has built up antibodies from a past immune system response to COVID-19. If you are feeling unwell or experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, consult your physician or local hospital for a diagnostic test.

If you have experienced any symptoms consistent to COVID-19 within the last few days, it is highly recommended that you do not enter the laboratory antibody testing site. Symptoms such as the following could indicate a COVID-19 infection: loss of smell or taste, shortness of breath, dry cough, feeling weak or lethargic, lightheadedness or dizziness, vomiting or diarrhea, slurred speech, and/or seizures. Placing an order to receive an antibody test kit is still recommended, but you must wait the previously mentioned time frame to come in for collection.

Current information from the CDC can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/testing/serology-overview.html

CDC coronavirus