Antibody Testing Cancelled At State-Supported COVID-19 Test Sites

WFSU | By Robbie Gaffney

Published October 5, 2020 at 3:53 PM EDT

A man with a gray polo shirt and sunglasses sits inside a white pop-up tent. A healthcare worker ties his arm with a rubber band and inserts a needle to draw blood. Two other healthcare workers oversee the procedure. A military car rests behind them. An orange traffic cone holds up caution tape, blocking people from coming inside. — Miami-Dade County firefighter Bibich Zabaleta, left, has blood drawn as he undergoes a COVID-19 antibody test at Hard Rock Stadium, during the new coronavirus pandemic, Wednesday, May 6, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla.

The Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) has canceled antibody testing at all state-supported COVID-19 test sites due to low demand. In an email, FDEM says people asking for antibody tests has been consistently low in recent weeks. The division is now reallocating resources based on how many people are being tested. About 50 people per day got an antibody test from the COVID-19 test site at Florida A & M University. It could do 250 tests daily. Health experts have been wary of antibody testing due to high false-negative and positive test results.

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State News FAMUCoronavirushealth and science

Robbie Gaffney

Robbie Gaffney graduated from Florida State University with degrees in Digital Media Production and Creative Writing. Before working at WFSU, they recorded FSU’s basketball and baseball games for Seminole Productions as well as interned for the PBS Station in Largo, Florida. Robbie loves playing video games such as Shadow of the Colossus, Animal Crossing, and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. Their other hobbies include sleeping and watching anime.

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