Is Widespread Antibody Testing the Key to Reopening the Country?

With pinprick antibody tests that provide results within 15 minutes becoming available, experts suggest that widespread antibody COVID-19 testing may be the key to reopening the country. Such testing can provide key data points such as how many individuals have COVID-19 but remain asymptomatic and who has antibodies to the virus. Testing the nation’s most vulnerable individuals, including those who live in assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and prisons, can be critical to containing outbreaks. Offering healthcare personnel antibody testing can also ensure they can safely provide direct patient care.  Three companies have received emergency approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to sell antibody tests. Clinical research demonstrating the accuracy and specificity of such tests still needs to be done. Read more here.