Frequently Asked Questions

COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This virus, which can cause mild to severe respiratory illness, has spread globally, including to the United States. There is limited information available to fully describe the different types of clinical illness associated with COVID-19. This illness likely spreads to others when a person shows signs or symptoms of being sick (e.g., fever, coughing, difficulty breathing, etc.) or in the few days leading up to symptoms.

A COVID-19 Active Infection test (or SARS-CoV-2 RNA [COVID-19] Qualitative NAAT test) is used to diagnose a COVID-19 active infection when an individual is experiencing symptoms of the COVID-19 disease or has been infected by someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19. This nasal swab test checks for viral RNA (genetic material) and detects an active infection. Nasopharyngeal swabs are considered the gold standard for COVID-19 Testing.

A COVID-19 Antibody test (or SARS-CoV-2 [COVID-19] IgG test) is used for an individual that has already tested positive for a COVID-19 infection or has suspected been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This blood test examines if an individual has developed antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a process which only occurs following an infection with a virus.

You are being given this TestFact because your sample was tested using the COVID-19 IgM and IgG Detection by ELISA Antibody Test.

This TestFact contains information to help you understand the risks and benefits of using this test for diagnosing prior infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. After reading this TestFact, if you have questions or would like to discuss the information provided, please talk with your health care provider.

The test is designed to detect antibodies (also known as immunoglobulins) against the virus that causes COVID-19. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system in response to an infection and are specific to that particular infection. They are found in the liquid part of blood specimens which is called serum or plasma, depending on the presence of clotting factors. Today your sample will be tested for immunoglobulin M (IgM) immunoglobulin G (IgG).

This test detects IgM and IgG antibodies IgM is usually the first antibody produced by the immune system when a virus attacks being detected 3-5 days after exposure. IgG antibodies that develop in most patients within seven to 10 days after symptoms of COVID-19 begin. IgG antibodies remain in the blood after an infection has passed. These antibodies indicate that you may have had COVID-19 in the recent past and have developed antibodies that may protect you from future infection. It is unknown at this point how much protection antibodies might provide against another infection with

Potential risks include:
Possible discomfort, bruising, infection or other complications that can happen during sample collection. Serious complications are very rare. This is a simple finger prick test.

Possible incorrect test result (see below for more information).

Potential benefits include:
The results, along with other information, can help your health care provider make informed recommendations about your care.

The results of this test may help limit the spread of COVID-19 to your family and others in your community.

If you have a positive test result (antibodies are detected), you may have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 at some point in the past. There is still a chance that the antibodies indicate past infection due to other coronaviruses. These other coronaviruses cause the common cold. There is also a small chance that a positive result is incorrect (false positive).

The presence of IgG suggests that the infection happened weeks to months in the past. It also suggests that you may no longer be infectious. IgG indicates that you may have some immunity to the virus, though you may not. How much it might protect you from getting sick with COVID-19 in the future is unknown. The presence of IgM is usually the first antibody produced by the immune system when a virus attacks. A positive IgM test indicates that you may have been infected and that your immune system has started responding to the virus.  When IgM is detected you may still be infected, or you may have recently recovered from a COVID-19 infection.
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Your health care provider will work with you to determine how best to care for you based on the test results along with other factors of your medical history, including any previous symptoms, possible exposure to COVID-19 and the location of places you have recently traveled. 

A negative test result means that the antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19 were not found in your sample. Some health conditions might make it difficult for your body to produce antibodies to an infection. However, it is possible for this test to give a negative result that is incorrect (false negative) in some people.
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A negative result may occur if you are tested early in your illness and your body hasn’t had time to produce antibodies to infection. This means that you could possibly still have COVID-19 even though the test is negative. If this is the case, your health care provider will consider the test result together with all other aspects of your medical history (such as symptoms, possible exposures and geographical location of places you have recently traveled) in deciding how to care for you.
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It is important that you work with your health care provider to help you understand the next steps you should take.

No. The antibody test is not yet approved or cleared by the United States FDA. When there are no FDA-approved or cleared tests available, and other criteria are met, the FDA can make tests available under an emergency access mechanism called an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

The EUA for this test is supported by the Secretary of Health and Human Service’s (HHS’s) declaration that circumstances exist to justify the emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for the detection and/or diagnosis of the virus that causes COVID-19.This EUA will remain in effect (meaning this test can be used) for the duration of the COVID-19 declaration, justifying emergency use of in vitro diagnostic tests (IVDs), unless it is terminated or revoked by FDA (after which the test may no longer be used).

The Laboratories top researchers and clinicians developed and validated this test and submitted it for emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The most up-to-date information on COVID-19 is available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: https://www.cdc.gov/COVID19. In addition, please also contact your health care provider with any questions/concerns.
IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SICK – You should not have antibody testing for COVID-19 at the testing tent site because:
1. The outdoors site is for testing only, not treatment of sick individuals
2. You may not yet have started to make antibodies
Symptomatic individuals (regardless of physician referral) needing urgent medical evaluation or who are recovering from COVID-19 may also have this test drawn as part of their evaluation in COVID-19-related clinics. Please call your Primary health provider if you would like more information and locations to go.

People who are sick should seek medical attention by calling their doctor. They may also ask our doctors to determine if they need to be seen in a clinic or emergency department, or qualify to have a test for active COVID-19 (i.e., a nasopharyngeal swab) at our outdoor testing site before returning home. People who are sick with COVID-19 or may have COVID-19 need to self-isolate themselves from others until recovered, according to the CDC guidelines. 
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html

People who have been exposed to COVID-19 should quarantine for 14 days to avoid infecting others in this time period when they might be becoming sick themselves.