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COVID-19 Antibody testing NOW AVAILABLE at Pure Life Clinic
As Oregonians, one of the crucial next steps to safely move forward in this pandemic is expanded testing capabilities.
If you are currently symptomatic please see below for OHSU drive up testing options. If you are not currently symptomatic but want to know if you have developed the antibodies due to previous exposure, then we have the resources to help you find out.
Antibody Testing
The antibody testing is newly available. It assesses whether you have produced an antibody response to the coronavirus, meaning you have had previous exposure or infection.
What is an Antibody?
An antibody is a protein that is produced in response to foreign pathogens (bacteria, virus, foreign substances). The antibody then triggers an attack of these foreign invaders as part of the immune response.
Options for antibody testing:
IgG antibody testing
This will test for the post-acute phase antibody to tell us whether you have had past exposure or illness to Covid-19. A simple blood draw in office will be performed and test results will be typically available within 2-3 days. This test has approximately a 10% chance of a false negative.
IgM, IgG and IgA antibody testing
This is a more comprehensive test that looks at the acute and post-acute antibody response. It measures three different parts of the antibody protein, allowing for increased accuracy. This test has a 97% sensitivity, meaning there is only a 3% chance of false negative.
Different Antibodies:
IgM is the acute phase protein and shows up about 3 days after you have been exposed to a pathogen. They are generally not detected after an infection is no longer active.
IgG is the post-acute phase protein and shows up about 10 days after you have been exposed or had symptoms to a pathogen.
IgA is the inflammatory response to a pathogen in the mucosal regions of the body (gut, lungs, nose, throat, genital).
While there are always limitations with medical testing; it is a step in the right direction to give us crucial information that is desperately needed at this time.
If you are currently symptomatic, or if you were recently in contact with someone who was diagnosed positive for COVID-19, then Nasopharyngeal COVID RT-PCR Testing may be needed.
Common Symptoms include:
- fever
- cough
- shortness of breath
- chills
- muscle pain
- new loss of taste or smell
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- and/or sore throat
If you are unsure if you need this testing, telemedicine appointments are available at PLC.
Drive-up COVID-19 testing sites:
OHSU is offering drive-through testing at the Expo Center in Portland and in Hillsboro for people with COVID-19 symptoms.
No appointment or provider referral is necessary.
These criteria are expected to change in accordance with CDC guidelines and the availability of testing supplies.
OHSU mobile testing locations:
1) Hillsboro Stadium, 4450 NE Century Blvd, Hillsboro, OR 97124
Hours: Monday – Saturday, noon to 6 p.m.
2) Portland Expo Center, 2060 N Marine Drive, Portland, OR 97217
Hours: Monday – Saturday, noon to 6 p.m
At Pure Life Clinic we strive to be a resource for our patients and community. Please call us today for antibody testing or with any health issues that need to be addressed.
Services Available Monday – Friday from 9-5pm *
- Chiropractic
- Naturopathic Primary Care
- Acupuncture
- Massage Therapy
* Please wear a mask to your appointments, if you don’t have one, one will be provided for you. Please ring doorbell when you arrive and fill out e-mail survey prior to your appointment.
We are here for you!
The Pure Life Clinic Team
Resources:
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/testing-laboratories.html
- https://vibrantwellnessblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/20/what-are-antibodies-and-why-are-they-important-in-covid-19-testing/
- https://education.questdiagnostics.com/faq/FAQ219
https://education.questdiagnostics.com/faq/FAQ219
FDA Required Regulatory Statement:
These tests have not been reviewed by the FDA. Negative results do not rule out SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly in those who have been in contact with the virus. Follow-up testing with a molecular diagnostic should be considered to rule out infection in these individuals. Results from antibody testing should not be used as the sole basis to diagnose or exclude SARS-CoV-2 infection or to inform infection status. Positive results may be due to past or present infection with non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus strains, such as coronavirus HKU1, NL63, OC43, or 229E.
The FDA does not intend to object to use of Serology tests. They recommend healthcare providers continue use of serological tests, as appropriate, with awareness of their limitations.
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