ARUP Laboratories reports it began COVID-19 antibody testing this week for the University of Utah and the Intermountain Healthcare system. But getting the test could take some time.In a series of tweets,Dr. Julio Delgado, Chief Medical Officer ARUP Laboratories, there is limited availability of the test due to supply chain limitations. In a statement, Delgado said, “We are working to expand this capacity in the next couple of weeks.” The hope, he added is to soon have the test available across the state, and then nationally.
Dr. Patricia Slev, ARUP’s Section Chief for Immunology, said this new testing will be able to tell if someone, even those who may have been asymptomatic, has been exposed to the virus.
Dr. Delgado told Fox 13 while the testing will soon be available statewide, it likely will start with testing those on the front lines of fighting COVID-19.
“At this point, I think the target is healthcare workers who have been exposed perhaps to the disease,” he said. “To try to determine if they have become infected with the virus and likely developed immunity in case they have not presented symptoms. That will allow us to identify individuals who have developed immunity against the infection, who could potentially could go back to work."
Other applications may also include using this antibody test to determine if individuals who have had the infection and who have recovered can donate blood, which contain antibodies to help others fighting the infection.
Dr. Delgado said antibody testing would need to be ordered by a healthcare provider. Delgado said information on how the test will be distributed will “likely be communicated this week."
ARUP Laboratories is working with investigators at the University of Utah and the Utah Department of Health. The state government is also participating in developing a surveillance study of COVID-19 in Utah.
