Testing for COVID-19 Antibodies

During a conversation with my friend Scott, he mentioned that his wife had ordered some home COVID-19 antibody tests. Completely dumbfounded, I asked where on earth she was able to do this. If you follow the COVID-19 testing news there have been some early trials and studies taking place, but as of now there are no online home kits available.

Scott mentioned that the kits were new, and that through some research his wife was able to order them directly from the company that manufactured them. Orders required minimum quantities of 25 tests. Our other friend Lee half-way joked that he would help defray the costs by purchasing a few tests from Scott. Scott mentioned he did not know when they would receive the tests and would “let us know.”

There are some scattered accounts of people also testing for Covid-19 antibodies, but with these cases the ability to be tested has a connection to a laboratory, medical hospital, or study group that are conducting some sort of COVID-19 study. The CDC is working with the medical industry to offer a mass-produced antibody test for the public, but as of now that is not available. On April 2nd the FDA has, on an emergency basis, approved the biotechnology company Cellex to sell a test for COVID-19 antibodies. The company works with medical institutions and health care companies and the test needs to be performed at a certified lab and authorized by your doctor.

Cellex Company Link

The FDA has granted another 70 companies’ permission to start selling their tests to medical industry and the public. These “tests” and the procedures are not FDA approved (yet), but the companies are directed to operate under a set of procedures to offer legitimate products. Apparently, the science for testing for antibodies is relatively “lower tech”, and only requires a more understood and available process. Additionally, the FDA has stated that they will police and punish companies that offer bogus or fraudulent tests.

Given the embryonic stage of COVID-19 testing (both for the live virus and antibodies), I did some research for a company that offers a test for the antibodies and is available to the general public. Low and behold I found one. Accesa Labs out of El Segundo in southern California has been offering lab testing and medical services since its founding in 2009. Products include titer tests for hepatitis B, measles, and other virus disorders. Technically Accesa does not do the COVID-19 antibody tests, but instead partners with a medical platform company called Push Health. This link for the Covid-19 antibody test takes you to an online form, and after paying the $245.00, I have an appointment this Tuesday at a medical lab for blood to be drawn.

Letter from Push Health

Why am I getting a COVID-19 antibody test this soon into the pandemic? It is a fair question, and as for myself I have a couple reasons. I had two different heavy head colds this past winter to spring season, which included a lingering cough. Out of strong health curiosity, I want to know if it indeed was COVID-19 that infected me. I feel healthy now, but I can’t go back in time and take a COVID-19 test (there wasn’t even a test available at that time). Also, if I develop symptoms in the future, for health care reasons I would like to know if I’ve been exposed in the past, and then developed any immunities from that infection.

Another reason is that when travel is started again, I would like to know if I have any COVID-19 immunity. As the WHO recently reminded us, there is no scientific verified research as to the strength and longevity of any COVID-19 immunity gained after infection; but it is still a personal data point. Some or any immunity gained is better than none. For those of us who do choose to travel we will be taking a lot of tests, for both the virus and the antibodies until a vaccine can be produced.

I’ll publish a follow up post after I take the test and receive the results.