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By Cara Beth Lewis

Are you wondering if you have COVID-19 antibodies? Anderson’s Drug Store in Elizabethtown now offers antibody testing for just $20, and an appointment is not required. Only fifteen minutes after the finger-prick test, you will receive your results, according to Gena Anderson Peed, Anderson Drug Store’s Pharmacist.

Below are some frequently asked questions and answers about antibodies from the FDA:

(antibody-serology-testing-covid-19-information-patients-and-consumers)

Antibodies and Antibody Tests: The Basics

Q: What are antibodies?

A: Antibodies are proteins made by the immune system to fight infections like viruses and may help to ward off future occurrences by those same infections. Antibodies can take days or weeks to develop in the body following exposure to a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection and it is unknown how long they stay in the blood.

Q: Are antibody tests used to diagnose COVID-19?

A: No. An antibody test does not detect the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to diagnose COVID-19. These tests can return a negative test result even in infected patients (for example, if antibodies have not yet developed in response to the virus) or may generate false positive results (for example, if antibodies to another coronavirus type are detected), so they should not be used to evaluate if you are currently infected or contagious (ability to infect other people).

Q: If antibody tests cannot be used to diagnose COVID-19, what tests are available for that?

A: Currently, there are two types of diagnostic tests for COVID-19:

Molecular (RT-PCR) tests, which detect the virus’ genetic material
Antigen tests that detect specific proteins on the surface of the virus

Molecular and antigen tests can detect if you have an active coronavirus infection. If you test positive on either type of test, you should follow the CDC’s guidelines to protect yourself and others.

Molecular and antigen tests are performed using samples taken mostly from the nose and throat using a long swab, or other respiratory specimens.

For more information on the different types of tests, see:

Anderson’s Drug Store is located at 206 South Poplar Street in Elizabethtown. The pharmacy is open from 8 am until 6 pm Monday – Friday, 8 am until 5 pm on Saturday, and closed on Sunday. Contact Anderson’s Drug Store at (910) 862-8411.