The general public can now receive rapid antibody tests at the Florida A & M University Covid-19 Test Site.
Health officials are encouraging antibody tests for people who have previously tested positive or think they’ve been infected with the coronavirus. If someone’s test comes back positive, they can donate their plasma to help others struggling with the disease. The test involves a blood draw from the patient’s arm. The results will be given back in 15 minutes.
The Federal Food and Drug Administration says researchers don’t know whether having antibodies to the virus will make someone immune. Also, it is possible to get a false-positive or false-negative result. Antibody testing will not replace traditional COVID-19 testing. Antibody tests are used to check if someone has had the virus at some point in the past, not to check if someone is sick right now.
To set up an antibody test, people will have to call the Leon County Health Department at 850-404-6399 to make an appointment.
