GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — As Michigan begins to reopen, testing has become one of our first lines of defense.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants 450,000 nasal swab tests done in the month of May. And while that will let us know who may currently have the virus, there's another test that can help determine who may have had it: the test for the COVID-19 antibody.
"It's a historical look at whether you produced an antibody," said Susan Smith, the Senior Director of Lab Services for Spectrum Health.
She says Spectrum Health is now offering the more reliable CDC two teared antibody testing for anyone who wants to be tested whether they've had symptoms of the virus or not.
"We are trying to have a better specificity in our testing and we feel that will provide less false positives which is very important to our community," Smith explained.
Smith says there is one thing you need to understand about the antibody test, "It will tell them whether they have been exposed, but it is not focusing on immunity because we do not understand yet what that means."
It's a simple blood test done at a Spectrum Lab. The entire process from sign-in to testing to leaving takes less than 15 minutes. Results come in about 24 hours later.
You may be wondering, what’s the point of getting tested if you never had symptoms?
Smith says, "The COVID antibody test helps us to look at the population and the prevalence in the population." So, even a negative test result gives health officials a snapshot of how the virus is affecting our state.
There is caveat of the antibody test. The results are not permanent, but you can choose to be tested more than once.
Up until Tuesday, May 27, Michiganders needed a doctor's order to receive the standard diagnostic COVID-19 test, however, Whitmer signed an executive order that allows anyone to get the standard diagnostic COVID-19 with reason and without an advance doctor's order, and done without charged an out-of-pocket cost.
THE ANTIBODY TEST
- Get an order for the antibody test from your doctor
- Go to a Spectrum Health Lab
- Cost $45 but should be covered by insurance through the federal government's COVID-19 testing guidelines
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Will COVID-19 become a routine part of our yearly healthy checks, just like cholesterol screening? Experts we spoke with say it's too soon to tell but it may be a possibility in the future.
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- Michigan removes more barriers for getting a COVID-19 test
- US company begins human trials for coronavirus vaccine in Australia
- Federal coronavirus plan for testing lays burden on states
- Michigan starts reporting COVID-19 antibody tests separately
- Rite Aid expands COVID-19 testing criteria
- Michigan expands COVID-19 testing criteria
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