Antibody tests: What are they, and what are the risks?

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Antibody tests for COVID-19 could help fight against the virus, but there are warnings you should know about the tests, which have yet to be reviewed by federal officials.

An antibody test can tell if you’ve ever had the coronavirus because, when you are sick, your immune system produces antibodies to fight off the infection.

It’s different from the nasal swab you see at mass testing sites such as the one at the Orange County Convention Center, which detects the virus to see if you are currently infected. The test pricks your finger, takes a little blood and tests it for COVID-19 antibodies.

Experts say antibody tests, along with the nasal swab tests, can give a fuller picture of how COVID-19 has spread through our communities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 25% of all people infected with the virus are asymptomatic, meaning they never develop any symptoms.

“The antibody test will really give us an ability to identify that, which again I think is helpful for knowing where are now and then going forward,” Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Knowing how much of the population has the ability to fight the virus, or maybe has an immunity, could help determine when it’s safe to return to life as we knew it.

The federal government last week announced it would test 10,000 healthy volunteers for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies. Researches in Michigan and California have also begun mass testing.

Video: Antibody tests: What are they, and what could they mean for the fight against COVID-19? Experts say antibody tests, along with the nasal swab tests, can give a fuller picture of how COVID-19 has spread through our communities.

DeSantis said the state has ordered FDA-approved antibody tests to get shipped “as quickly as possible.”

There has been some controversy surrounding the antibody tests. The Federal Drug Administration has waived its review of these tests as part of its emergency response to COVID-19, because that review can sometimes take more than a year.

The FDA is making exceptions, and formally allowing one company to sell its antibody tests. Other companies and labs can sell their tests, if they notify the FDA and include specific disclaimers. More than 70 companies worldwide are already doing just that.

Only one company, Cellex, has what’s called “emergency use authorization.”

Scott Becker, executive director for the Association of Public Health Laboratories said he thinks this is “pretty uncommon.”

“This is the first time I think something like this has been done where they’ve given so much flexibility,” he said.

The Association of Public Health Laboratories is pushing for more federal oversight of the tests. On Tuesday, members said the federal government has agreed to take a closer look at all the tests. They say the results of the evaluation could be completed in about three weeks.

Critics say the lack of oversight could mean unreliable tests that could tell a person that they have the antibody, when they really don’t.

One laboratory in Tampa has been administering the tests.

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