State Public Health Institute Launches Antibody Test-Suffolk News-The Herald

The State Public Health Institute has launched an antibody test for COVID-19, allowing public health authorities to track statewide exposure to coronaviruses.

Antibody tests, also called serologic tests, detect the presence of antibodies that indicate someone has been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. The body produces antibodies to fight off such infections.

“The Virginia Institute of Public Health plays a key role in the federal COVID-19 response,” said Secretary of Internal Affairs and Communications Joe Damico in a news release. “Antibody tests not only fight disease, but a better understanding of how it affects our citizens.”

As of August 27, more than 1.5 million people have been tested for COVID-19 by a molecular test called PCR that detects the genetic material of the virus and indicates if it is currently infected.

An additional 121,687 have undergone antibody testing.

Marilyn Freeman, DCLS Deputy Head of Testing and leading lab antibody testing initiative, said: “PCR shows who is currently infected, but does not show everyone who is infected. Antibody testing bridges that gap. It cannot be used for diagnosis, but it monitors how many people are exposed. Can be used for monitoring.”

As a state public health laboratory, the Comprehensive Laboratory Services Division is usually the first person in the state to begin testing for emerging public health threats such as viral or bacterial diseases.

There are private laboratories that provide antibody tests to help people understand if they have been exposed to COVID-19, but state laboratories have worked with public health officials to find out how the virus can become infected. Decide what to inspect to understand what you are doing.

On February 29, state laboratories began using PCR tests to determine if anyone was currently infected with the virus. When other laboratories take over the diagnostic requirements of state tests, state laboratories initiate a surveillance process and track the effects of the virus on people in the state.

State lab scientists use tests that look for IgM, or immunoglobulin M antibodies, that the body makes when fighting new infections found in blood and lymph. We also look for IgG or immunoglobulin G, which are the most common antibodies and are present in blood and other body fluids and provide protection against bacterial and viral infections.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can detect both antibodies in serum within 2-3 weeks of virus appearance, and immunoglobulin M detection is uncommon without immunoglobulin G He said.

State laboratories have found that the presence of unreported cases of the disease has the potential to identify asymptomatic virus carriers, that is, those who have antibodies in their blood but who do not experience symptoms. Can be used for.

The serological test used at the state laboratories can process large numbers of samples and get results in about 20 minutes, and can test up to 220 samples per hour if needed.

State Research Institute said it had a large inventory of test supplies and was not “at the moment” anticipating supply shortages.

“In the future, I think this test will help us understand vaccination,” Freeman said. “We are working to find out if the presence of antibodies provides long-term immunity to the virus, and we hope our results will contribute to that understanding.”

The State Department of Health launched the Coronavirus Serology Project in June and partnered with the health systems of each of the state’s five health planning areas, including Sentara Healthcare in the eastern region. 1,000 people participated in each region, each of whom answered a simple questionnaire and asked them to collect blood samples. University of Virginia conducted laboratory tests for antibodies.

At a briefing last month, state health commissioner Dr. Norman Oliver found that approximately 2.4% of the 3,775 people enrolled in the study had antibodies to COVID-19, but the prevalence of antibodies in the Latino community was much higher. Said high. He said the vast majority of people are still vulnerable to viral infections.