Coronavirus testing breakthrough with new Antibody kits

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Since Coronavirus testing is so limited, you’re probably wondering how it is determined on who receives a test.

Doctors at Yuma Regional Medical Center tell me, not everyone who develops coronavirus-like symptoms will need to be tested.

There are now two types of Coronavirus tests.

Dr. Bharat Magu is the Chief Medical Officer for YRMC.

“The patients who have symptoms, now we have another choice. Antibody testing is available," he says.

If you are experiencing any respiratory symptoms, you should still seek your healthcare provider. They will make the appropriate decision.

The current PCR nasal swab test and new antibody test - are used in different ways.

Trudie Milner, Ph.D is the Vice President of Operations for the hospital.

“To be tested for COVID-19, you will be a systematic patient and there is specific criteria which have been outlined, which we as an organization are following,” she said.

“Now in a patient who does not have symptoms lets say the patient is in an asymptomatic phase. The PCR may be negative too because it depends on where it is swapped,” Dr. Magu added.

The new antibody test just arrived, at the hospital, Wednesday.

“What the intention of the u of a work is to really do a sampling across the state to more fully understand whats happening. So it will become very valuable for understanding the presence in the community and what we describe as community spread.”

And if you think you may have been exposed, but have not developed symptoms, you could potentially be asymptomatic.
The new antibody test is used in this case.

“We will be asking larger communities to get tested in a phased fashion. Testing for a patient who is symptomatic gives us a very clear indication what is happening in the whole community… what is happening overall," Dr. Magu said.

The hospital says, the new antibody test could be available to the general public within a month.