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Antibody Testing Isn't What You Think: Where, Why and Whether To Get One
We're asking public health officials and experts to answer your questions about the COVID-19 pandemic. Keep in mind that this information does not constitute professional medical advice. For questions regarding your own health, always consult a physician.
Testing, testing, testing. That’s the key ingredient in getting our society back to some sort of normal. As the state opens more facilities to test for COVID-19, testing for virus antibodies is also popping up in unlikely places.
Given how tough this winter's flu season has been, it's natural for many of us to wonder if we were exposed to COVID-19 and if an antibody test can tell us if we're immune. But UC San Francisco epidemiologist George Rutherford says:
"That's categorically incorrect...It can tell you you've been infected, but not that you're immune." And it will NOT tell you if you currently have COVID-19.
"Ninety test systems came on the market in one week. It was the wild west."
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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