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An at-home test can tell you if you had COVID-19 - should you buy one?
Millions of people across America are on pins and needles about whether or not they’ve contracted COVID-19. The disease is a great mimic of symptoms caused by milder illnesses like colds or the flu, and only a genuine test can confirm your exposure to the novel coronavirus.
That’s why multiple diagnostic companies are competing to deliver at-home or self-initiated test kits that anyone can use. If users can test themselves, they can continue to flatten the curve and avoid risking exposure to others in a healthcare setting. Tap or click here to find out how you can sign up for LabCorp’s new at-home test.
While only a small handful of companies have seen their tests approved by the FDA, a new entry to the field is now available from Quest Diagnostics. This test will confirm if your body has created antibodies for COVID-19, which can indicate you had the disease and recovered! Here’s how to get your hands on it.
Quest Diagnostics announces a new antibody test for COVID-19
In an announcement posted on April 28, Quest Diagnostics revealed that its consumer antibody test for COVID-19 would be available online without the need for a doctor’s note. Patients who suspect they’ve been exposed to or recovered from COVID-19 can order the test directly from Quest Diagnostics for the price of $119.
An antibody test is useful in determining whether patients possess any degree of protection from the virus, which humans currently have no herd immunity. Health officials say that a positive antibody test does not guarantee immunity to reinfection, but it is thought that it may help provide some resistance to future exposure.
Related: Apple and Google’s new contact-tracing tool will work on your phone
U.S. officials and corporate leaders are hoping enough positive antibody tests will convince people that it’s safe to return to work. Or at the very least, give those who test positive for antibodies a chance to resume their normal lives.
How does this test work?
Before you pay for the test via Quest’s website, you’ll be given a screening to determine whether an antibody test is right for you. Patients still experiencing symptoms are not advised to take the test, and are told to wait until at least 10 days have passed with no symptoms or fever.
Once you pay for the test, you’ll be scheduled for a blood draw at one of Quest’s 2,200 labs. Once blood is drawn, your results will be available in 1-2 days. It’s a simple procedure with incredibly fast turnaround time.
Are there any downsides to antibody testing?
FDA says no to in-home coronavirus testing - here's what you can do instead
One of the biggest keys to successfully fighting COVID-19 is rapid, accurate testing anyone can access. In the United States, tests were not widely available until recently. And even then, you had to be showing symptoms to qualify.