Comments on: What is a COVID-19 Antibody Test? https://reliantmedicalgroup.org/blog/2020/05/19/what-is-a-covid-19-antibody-test-and-should-i-get-it/ Fri, 05 Jun 2020 11:04:03 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 By: Danielle Finlay https://reliantmedicalgroup.org/blog/2020/05/19/what-is-a-covid-19-antibody-test-and-should-i-get-it/#comment-9256 Fri, 05 Jun 2020 11:04:03 +0000 https://reliantmedicalgroup.org/?p=29592#comment-9256 I agree that offering these antibody tests can give the health department a more informed view of how many people have actually had the virus- and did not get really sick, be hospitalized or die. Right now, with only testing people that have symptoms, we do not have the total picture and therefore data and judgement about next steps are completely skewed. If the state knew that a greater number of people have actually had the virus and recovered, it could provide better guidance going forward.
Plus the added benefit that the plasma from people with antibodies seems to help those that are really sick recover.
I think that Reliant should rethink it’s position on this matter for the benefit of the health of all in Massachusetts going forward. Just because a person finds out they have has antibodies, doesn’t mean they will be reckless. It actually means they could possibly help those who are sick. Have more faith in people’s desire to do good.

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By: Reliant Medical Group https://reliantmedicalgroup.org/blog/2020/05/19/what-is-a-covid-19-antibody-test-and-should-i-get-it/#comment-9243 Thu, 04 Jun 2020 19:56:49 +0000 https://reliantmedicalgroup.org/?p=29592#comment-9243 In reply to Harry Mishkin.

We do offer nasal swab tests. Due to the amount of tests available nationally, we are not testing asymptomatic people at this time.

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By: Harry Mishkin https://reliantmedicalgroup.org/blog/2020/05/19/what-is-a-covid-19-antibody-test-and-should-i-get-it/#comment-9242 Thu, 04 Jun 2020 19:47:50 +0000 https://reliantmedicalgroup.org/?p=29592#comment-9242 How about testing to see if one has covid-19; is this the nasal-swab test? And is it highly reliable, or have there been false negatives and/or positives?

Does Reliant offer that test? If so could / should that test be given if one does not have symptoms?

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By: Woodrow Briselle https://reliantmedicalgroup.org/blog/2020/05/19/what-is-a-covid-19-antibody-test-and-should-i-get-it/#comment-9241 Thu, 04 Jun 2020 19:25:30 +0000 https://reliantmedicalgroup.org/?p=29592#comment-9241 While it may be the case that those with the antibodies might not have substantial immunity from catching COVID-19 again, there are two big benefits from doing this: 1) Knowing that more people were exposed to the disease but didn’t get sick enough to get the regular test (such as those people who thought they just had a really bad chest cold in February or March) would show a lower rate of infection for the disease and provide public health officials with more accurate data than they currently show (they only talk about percentages of those who’ve tested positive, and those are the really sick). 2) With the possibility of plasma donations helping those who are sick, a person who can receive the antibody test could then donate their plasma to help out.

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