Physicians Quality Care tested another 100 patients for COVID-19 antibodies Tuesday as more people want to know if they have had the coronavirus and may have developed immunity.
“We don’t have enough data yet about COVID-19, but we do know that the presence of antibodies to other diseases caused by a virus – measles, mumps, flu, chicken pox – confers a much lower risk of getting the disease or spreading it to others,” said Dr. Jimmy Hoppers, CEO of Physicians Quality Care, “The COVID-19 antibody tests used by Physicians Quality Care specifically test for Sars-CoV-2 (COVID-19) IgG antibodies.
“Does this guarantee that there is no cross-reactivity to other members of the coronavirus family? No, but that can be said when testing for any virus.”
Physicians Quality Care, in partnership with LabCorp, a nationally accredited testing laboratory, is offering the tests in accordance with the public health emergency guidance issued by the FDA.
On April 17, in an FDA-issued Fact Sheet, the FDA gave Emergency Use Authorizations for COVID-19 tests, including Sars-CoV-2 serological or antibody tests. “And, that is what we are using,” Hoppers said.
IgG antibodies are your immune system’s response to fighting off the presence of a virus, and the FDA has released the following statement: “Experience with other viruses suggests that individuals whose blood contains antibodies associated with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection – provided they are recovered and not currently infected with the virus – may be able to resume work and other daily activities in society.”
“The data we are getting is reliable,” Hoppers said, “It is showing whether someone has developed antibodies (or markers) for the coronavirus. The question is what does it mean to have antibodies for COVID-19, and those answers will come as we continue to learn more about COVID-19.
“Knowing that you have antibodies to COVID-19 can give you peace of mind – you may not get the virus again or unknowingly spread the virus to someone else.”
Those wanting an antibody test should be asymptomatic – meaning they’ve had no symptoms of the coronavirus for the last 10 days. They can walk-in to PQC’s urgent care clinics in Milan or Jackson.
Like a regular office visit, they will meet with a provider and then have blood drawn. It will take two to three days for the results to come back from LabCorp.
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 new hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
