Horizon Internal Medicine Offers Coronavirus Antibody Test
Horizon Internal Medicine is now offering antibody blood testing also known as SARS-CoV-2 AB to detect past infection with coronavirus. This blood test has been proven to be 99.6% specific for SARS-CoV-2 and the results are available within 2-5 days.
Who can be tested?
Only patients over the age of 10 who are asymptomatic (not exhibiting any sign or symptoms of active coronavirus infection) for at least 14 days can be tested.
What is the difference between the antibody test and molecular COVID-19 test?
The antibody test is a blood test which tests for past infection and is very different from the molecular COVD-19 test, which is done with a nasal swab, and is checking for active presence of the COVID-19 virus itself.
What can I expect when I come to Horizon Internal Medicine for the test?
We ask that you come to the office wearing a mask. When you arrive a sign on our front door will prompt you to call the front desk and you will then be asked a series of questions to help ensure you are asymptomatic upon entering the center.
Prior to your blood draw you will have a consultation with our provider. The provider will make sure you are asymptomatic at the time of the blood draw and document the timing and nature of past symptoms (if any). Last but not least, the provider will counsel you on the limitations of the test and interpretation of results.
When will my results be available?
You will be contacted by an office staff member when your results have been received.
What is the cost of the test?
It is our understanding that the antibody test will be covered by most insurance plans but we would encourage you to reach out to your insurance carrier for verification for your specific plan before you are tested. COMING SOON – No cost testing for patients without insurance. Come back for further updates.
Is It FDA Approved?
The answer is NO.
There are currently NO FDA approved SAR-Cov2 antibody tests available.
Several tests have “Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)” but are not “FDA Approved” yet.
What Is A Coronavirus Antibody Test?
Also known As SARS-Cov-2 AB test checks for presence of antibodies to coronavirus in the blood.
Antibody test is very different from molecular Covid-19 test, which is done with nasal swab, and is checking for presence of the Covid-19 virus itself.
Antibodies are produced by immune system after the minimum 7 days after infection and remain positive long after the infection.
This is why antibody testing can be used to detect a past infection with coronavirus.
Which Antibodies Will Be Tested?
We utilize LabCorp testing for three SARS-COV-2 antibody bands: IgG, IgM and IgA.
IgG turns positive within 7-20 days of infection and tends to persist for over 6 months (likely years).
IgM turns positive within 7-20 days of infection onset, peaks @ 80 days and fades away within 6 months.
IgA from limited data available we assume it should follow the same course as IgM.
