An antibody test that can determine whether those who’ve had COVID-19 are now immune is soon to roll out from the Mayo Clinic, and officials with Owensboro Health said they’ve already pre-ordered several of them.
Chief Medical Officer Francis DuFrayne said there’s a couple of antibody tests out there right now, but the newer ones should be more accurate and effective.
“Most of the tests they have out now are not for acute diagnoses,” DuFrayne said. “But with these tests, we can test someone a week later and determine ‘Did they have COVID-19, and have they developed antibodies?’ It’s more of a screening test.”
If a person does contain the antibodies needed for immunity, they would no longer be considered a threat in spreading it to others.
That’s huge news for the economy, DuFrayne added, as people who test positive for immunity could go back to work.
He said the problem with COVID-19 testing is that it’s not 100 percent accurate, citing a number of false negatives that have occurred.
“In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), we’ve had patients test negative who display all the symptoms, and then they test negative again after a second test. Then you’re stuck,” he said.
The antibody test would help alleviate those false negatives by determining with certainty that suspected COVID-19 patients do in fact have the virus.
As of now, the antibody test is administered via blood draw, but there’s been talk of developing a finger prick procedure in the near future.
The antibody test would also take some of the pressure off healthcare workers and the general public because a positive antibody test would eliminate the need for a COVID-19 test.
“If I already know you’re immune, we don’t have to test you for COVID-19,” DuFrayne said.
Owensboro Health has already ordered the equipment to perform in-house testing at the hospital, rather than having to rely on the drive-thru testing sites alone. That would allow them to perform up to 200 tests a day, with the ability to receive test results within 24 hours.
Currently, OH has tested 831 people for COVID-19 at various locations. Ninety-two positive tests have been recorded, 645 have been negative and 94 are pending.
There are currently six patients hospitalized in the COVID-19 unit, and another four hospitalized in critical care. Four patients are currently awaiting test results, including three in the COVID-19 unit and one in critical care.
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The Owensboro Health coronavirus hotline is available 24/7 by calling 877-888-6647. Call the hotline before seeking in-person care. More information from OH can be found here.
For the latest information and data on COVID-19 in Kentucky visit kycovid19.ky.gov or dial the Kentucky state hotline at 800-722-5725.
For the latest health guidelines and resources from the CDC, visit their website here.
