COVID-19 antibody testing is now available for the public at UT Health RGV in Harlingen, Mercedes and Edinburg.
According to a UTRGV news release, UT Health RGV, the clinical arm of the School of Medicine, launched antibody testing as a third component of their pandemic initiatives.
Director of COVID-19 operations at the UT Health RGV Clinical Lab, John Thomas says the goal of the antibody testing is to be able to identify individuals who have contracted COVID-19 in the past.
“So, this is something that UTRGV has been working on for the last, probably six to eight weeks,” Thomas said. “We purchased the machine to do the antibody testing, which is called Alinity … the machine from Abbott’s, that’s been certified by the FDA.”
According to the news release, the antibody test is done by drawing blood and the sample is sent to the UT Health RGV Lab for results, usually available within 24 to 36 hours.
“So, the antibody test is a way for us to kind of retroactively look at people and determine whether or not they were infected or exposed to COVID-19 during the pandemic time,” Thomas said.
Antibodies are proteins that help fight off infections and usually provide protection against getting that disease again, also known as immunity
An appointment must be made to be tested through the Patient Communications Center at 1-833-887-4863 In addition, walk-ins are welcome at primary care sites.
To find the nearest location antibody collection sites, visit uthealthrgv.org.
Cost of the antibody test can be billed to the individual’s insurance with an order from a UT Health RGV physician, or for those without insurance, a flat, $75 fee.
Exercise Science Senior Gabriela Valdez says she was one of the first students to use the COVID-19 testing when it was first announced in March at UTRGV.
“UTRGV is doing a pretty good job,” Valdez said. “I think when it comes to the UTRGV testing… they’re one of the fastest turnaround times that I’ve seen so far with UTRGV… I got results within like a day and a half.”
The news release also states regular COVID-19 testing is ongoing at the four UT Health RGV drive-thru testing sites.
FOR VAQUERO RADIO, I’M VICTOR RAMIREZ.
