NWH offers COVID-19 Antibody Tests in Chappaqua

admin Posted OnJune 10, 2020

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NWH offers COVID-19 Antibody Tests in Chappaqua: Northern Westchester Hospital is now offering COVID-19 antibody testing to the general public. These simple blood draw tests will be administered at NWH’s Center for Healthy Living at Chappaqua Crossing from Monday through Friday, 7am to 3pm through July 31. Note that, antibody tests do not determine if you are currently infected by the Coronavirus – diagnostic tests do that. Rather COVID-19 specific anti-body tests determine if you were exposed to the virus in the past.

Derek Anderson

In a joint communique, Derek Anderson, Executive Director of NWH, Marla Koroly, MD, NWH Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Dwayne Breining, Executive Director of Northwell Health Labs explained, “Many people who thought they had the virus early on, when there was limited testing availability, were not tested for the virus. Now, that population can see if they were exposed. If you have the antibodies – you’ve been exposed. We’ve come across a number of people who have come back positive and never felt sick. On the other hand, some people who thought they had the virus are coming back negative.”

Many people think of these tests as a way to ensure “peace of mind” as the evidence of past infections in past Coronaviruses is generally viewed in the medical community as providing “some level” of immunity. However, Drs. Koroly and Breining caution that the exact level of immunity is unknown. That said, anti-body testing can help the medical community in understanding and combating the spread of the disease. And it could make you an important part of the process.

Be a part of the treatment of COVID-19

Dr. Marla Koroly

Antibody tests provide information on the prevalence of the disease in certain communities. Additional information from antibody tests can be valuable in helping the medical community understand more about infection rates, as well. Importantly, if you test positive for the anti-bodies, you become a candidate to donate plasma to aid the hospital’s efforts in treating patients with the disease. “There’s actually a treatment for Covid-19 called convalescent plasma treatment. We’re doing research into how Covid-19 antibodies can actually help a patient who is currently sick with the virus,” the doctors explained. There’s even ‘diagnostic’ value for patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 and don’t see themselves as candidates for donating plasma because some people who have a virus, never develop antibodies. “One way you can confirm that you have antibodies is by getting tested.”

One thing the test will not do is relieve you of the duties of maintaining the safety and hygiene practices we’ve all become so used to. Drs. Koroly and Breining stressed, “even if you think you’re immune because you’ve tested positive for antibodies, we don’t know how long immunity will last. Whether you’re positive or negative for antibodies, it’s important to continue practicing good social distancing, hand hygiene, and proper personal protective measures. Don’t stop following the guidelines because you have a positive antibody test. You can still give grandma the virus if it’s on your clothing or your hands.”

“The good news,” they continued is that “we’re learning that we know how to stop this thing. The measures we’ve put in place are working. It’s not because of any seasonal change that new cases are slowing. It’s all due to the precautions we’ve put in place. It’s important to continue to follow these precautions, so that we prevent any sort of resurge.”