More About Antibody Testing

Antibody testing is coming soon.

There are several testing options:

• a blood draw where the test goes to the laboratory; results in 1-4 days approx

• a finger prick rapid test at the “point of care” with results in 10-45 minutes.

Antibody testing tells you if:

• you have been exposed to COVID-19 infection;

• you have immunity after vaccination when vaccine becomes available;

• you had a suspicious illness and if that illness was COVID-19

Why do it?

• Once we understand immunity better, you will know if you are protected from infection if you have antibody

• At the “community level,” it is good to know how many people in a population or community have been exposed previously

• Herd immunity - eventually if around 70% people have either had infection and developed immunity or have been vaccinated— that ”herd immunity” that can slow the spread of infection

Stopping the Spread of Virus - notice the difference between spread of infection at the top and at the bottom. As more people develop “protective antibody (yellow people),“ spread of virus slows down.