A new test for antibodies to Covid-19 will shed light on who is at risk for spreading and contracting the virus. This may allow people to determine when it is safe and responsible for them to return to work, school, etc and to resume normal activities. This test, called Vibrant Covid-19 Immunecheck, will be available to the patients of select providers as part of an FDA review validation phase and will require a blood draw + finger stick test starting Monday 3/30 (we can pre-order it and schedule the blood draw now). It will be available to many more doctor-providers to order the following week, and should move to a drop shipped, at- home finger stick test as soon as April 13th.
In this video, I discuss:
Disclosure, goals of this talk, my background (0-2:45)
A crash course in antibodies and immunity (2:46-7:00)
Practical applications for this test: are your symptoms due to Covid-19? Are you contagious? Are you ready to go back to work/school? (7:01-9:20)
Comparing this to other Covid-19 tests (9:20-12:15)
Practicalities: how, when and where to get this test? (12:15-end)
Here is a link to the lab I recommend:
Test name: Vibrant Covid-19 Immunocheck
Test type: serum (first 2 weeks blood draw, thereafter finger prick)
Cost: $149
Expected turnaround time: 2-3 days
Here is another option that should soon be available for home testing:
Test name: Xplore Covid-19
Test type: Cough swab
Cost: $250
Expected turnaround time: 2-3 days
Be sure to view this part of the video: Comparing Covid-19 tests (9:20-12:15)
Both of these tests must be ordered by a participating physician. I urge you to share this video with your physician and ask them to order this test for you.
Testing a significant percentage of the population will shed light on how this disease is affecting the American population, and it is my hope that it may speed the responsible return of people to the workforce and to schools.
The contents of this video DO NOT constitute medical advice and are not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure any disease.
