Sanford Health offers COVID-19 antibody testing to public

Test for probable exposure available at dozens of sites

Written by
February 21, 2022
10 min read
A lab technician processes antibody tests at Sanford Laboratories. This test will detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and is not designed to detect an active infection. (Photo by Sanford Health)

Curious about whether you may have been exposed to the virus causing COVID-19 and developed antibodies?2022世界杯巴西阵容你们附近可能有个测试。

At nearly 50 sites in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota, whether or not you’re a Sanford Health patient, you can stop in and get a quick blood draw. No appointment needed.

The antibody test doesn’t test for an active COVID-19 infection. So if you currently have symptoms, test at home or contact your provider. A nasal swab is the appropriate test for active COVID-19 infections.

It can take up to three weeks after a COVID-19 infection for your body to develop antibodies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So a positive result from this test indicates vaccination or probable exposure at some point in the past.

Antibody test limitations

There are a few things you should know the Sanford Health antibody test can’t do. First, it can tell you whether you have antibodies, but not where they’re from — whether you got vaccinated, infected or both.

Right now, a positive test is not considered an indication of immunity. Studies have yet to determine whether antibodies offer protection from a second infection, or if there is protection, how long it may last.

But whether people might test positive or negative for antibodies, it shouldn’t affect their decisions, according to Dr.Susan Hoover, aninfectious diseasespecialist with Sanford Health.

“You should not change your behavior in response to an antibody test,” she said. Vaccination, masking, social distancing, frequent hand-washing and other COVID-19 precautions still apply to everyone.

It’s also important to keep in mind that even with the antibody test’s high sensitivity, tests still may deliver false positives. And different methods of testing used elsewhere may not yield the same result.

Hope for antibody testing

Out of nearly 40,000 COVID-19 antibody tests Sanford Laboratories has processed for patients, the rate of positive tests was about 32%, according to Dan Ingemansen, senior director atSanford Laboratories. The lab can process 1,000 antibody tests in a day.

If you come in to get tested at a Sanford Health facility, keep in mind that clinical safety recommendations will apply, including screening questions, mask-wearing and social distancing.

For now, antibody testing exists mainly to satisfy a person’s curiosity about, for example, whether your mystery illness earlier in the pandemic was COVID-19.

桑福德健康中心临床病理学高级主任洛恩·霍兰德博士说:“这是一种事后补充数据点的方法，可以确定你是否患了这种病。”2022世界杯巴西阵容

But he shares the ultimate goal of antibody testing for the virus causing COVID-19. “It would be nice if you could get that immunity passport,” he said.

Ideally, then, a certain antibody score would tell you you’re immune from being infected, like it can with infectious diseases such as measles or mumps. It doesn’t work for influenza, however, and whether it could for COVID-19 must yet be determined.

Here are more details about Sanford Health’s antibody testing.

Who can be tested? Do I need a referral?

Antibody testing is available to everyone and does not require a provider referral.

How soon will I get results?

You will receive a message in卡塔尔世界杯预选赛比分考试后三到四天内。如果你没有My Sanford Char卡塔尔世界杯预选赛比分t账户，测试结果会邮寄给你。

What can I expect when I visit a testing location?

You should expect your visit to resemble a clinic visit. Adult patients are allowed one visitor, while pediatric patients are allowed two. All patients and visitors must wear a mask (cloth or surgical) at all times. The test includes a blood draw. You can expect to be in the clinic for around 20 minutes, just as you would for any other blood draw. Remember, payment is required at the time of service.

What will I be tested for?

You will be tested for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Antibodies are an immune system response formed to attack a virus.

阳性测试是什么意思?

目前，抗体检测呈阳性被认为意味着一个人接种过COVID-19疫苗或在过去的某个时间接触过SARS-CoV-2。目前尚不清楚，拥有抗体是否意味着你可以防止再次感染SARS-CoV-2。

Will this test tell me if I have COVID-19?

No. This test will only detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and is not designed to detect an active infection of the virus. If you have COVID-19 symptoms,take an at-home test,schedule an e-visit or call your doctor’s office.

我可以在哪里做检测?我该如何安排呢?

测试可在下列地点进行。不需要预约。

North Dakota

South Dakota

Minnesota

Iowa

Information in this story was accurate when it was posted. As the COVID-19 pandemic changes, scientific understanding and guidelines may have changed since the original publication date.

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Jane Thaden Lawson
简·劳森是桑福德健康中心的高级沟通专家。2022世界杯巴西阵容