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Memorial Hospital and Manor recently acquired the SARS-cov2 IgG antibody test that will let patients know if they have already had the novel Coronavirus, despite being asymptomatic.

Lab manager, Leigh Ann Taylor said the hospital received the tests last Wednesday and began administering them to patients on Monday. However, they are only allowed to receive and administer one week’s worth of tests at a time.

Taylor and her lab team began practicing with the tests when they received them. She said they had saved some blood work from patients who tested positive for COVID-19 to run trials on the antibody test and so far the test is correlating with the positive blood samples.

In order to receive an antibody test, patients must have a physician’s order. The test will require a blood draw and is venal puncture rather than a finger prick.

The cost of the test is $10 copay for patients with commercial insurance and $60 for self pay with a prompt pay discount. Patients can then expect their test results within 30 minutes of the blood work.

Once patients receive a positive or negative test result, it will be recorded. However, Taylor said the DPH and CDC are not considering positive antibodies the same as positive test results and they will not be added to the total sum of COVID-19 positive cases.

Those interested in receiving an antibody test can contact their doctor, who can prescribe an order to have one performed at Memorial Hospital and Manor.