Patients seeking tests for COVID-19 antibodies can walk in to Physicians Quality Care’s Urgent Care Clinics in Jackson and Milan without the risk of being exposed to patients who may have the virus, said Dr. Jimmy Hoppers, CEO.

“Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in mid-March, we have set up a separate and safe COVID-19 clinic at our Jackson location for people seeking treatment and testing for COVID-19. That allowed our urgent care and our primary care patients in Jackson and Milan to continue to safely seek medical care.”

PQC started offering specific testing for COVID-19 IgG antibodies two weeks ago, and 629 people have been tested.

Meanwhile, since March 18 when PQC opened its COVID-19 Clinic, 1,353 have been tested for the virus. The number of people who tested positive for COVID-19 has remained at 55 for nearly a week.
PQC has treated and tested more people for COVID-19 than any other commercially owned medical clinic in the area. As part of its efforts to help reduce the spread of the virus, the clinic is also participating in a national research study of patients who have recovered from COVID-19.

People can be tested for COVID-19 antibodies if they have been symptom free for at least 10 days. “No appointment is necessary,” Hoppers said, “With all of its COVID-19-related testing, Physicians Quality Care is working with nationally accredited laboratories that are following FDA guidelines.

“In order to stop the spread of this virus, we need to find out as much as we can.

“Consider antibody testing, for example. We know that IgG antibodies are the body’s immune system response to fighting off the presence of other viruses. That’s why, as our economy opens up, it’s important to know who has IgG antibodies to COVID-19, even though we don’t have a definitive answer on what that means.

“Even the FDA has said COVID-19 antibody testing may indicate that ‘the person has been exposed to the virus and developed antibodies against it, which may mean that person has at least some immunity to the coronavirus.’”

For more information call 731-984-8400 or visit physiciansqualitycare.com. PQC in Jackson is open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Telemedicine is available during those hours.

Because all COVID-19-concerned patients are directed to the Jackson location’s secure COVID-19 clinic, PQC in Milan has temporary hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

It will return to 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week on June 1.