National laboratory companies are offering antibody tests as part of their return-to-work offers, but doctors caution that these tests should not yet be used to determine whether it is safe to return to the office.
“There is no perfect antibody test at this time to determine an individual’s immunity to COVID-19,” said Dr. Susan Bailey, President of the American Medical Association. “The tests are improving. We’ve come a long way in the past few months, but we’re certainly not ready to do anything like give someone an immunity certificate or something.
Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp are two companies that offer testing to employers.
LabCorp says that antibody tests should not be used as the sole basis for diagnosing or excluding COVID-19 infection.
Quest Diagnostics also emphasizes that it is unknown how long the antibodies persist after infection and whether the presence of antibodies gives you immunity.
That’s something the American Medical Association agrees with.
“Everything must be taken in context. Have you been exposed to COVID-19? How careful have you been? Have you been somewhere where you could have been inadvertently exposed? Bailey asked. “The laboratory values in themselves may not mean much. We still have a lot to learn about what defines immunity to COVID-19. “
Bailey also points to early antibody studies that indicate they may not last long. She says she is not sure that antibody testing is the way to go to determine when someone is sure to return to work.
If you have an antibody test, it is important to review it with your doctor so they can help you understand the importance of it.
The American Medical Association says that antibody tests can be helpful in trying to see how many people in an area have been exposed to COVID-19, and also to determine if someone who had COVID-19 is eligible to donate plasma.
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