Tia is now offering antibody testing

Since the onset of Covid-19, our response to the pandemic has been guided by three core principles:

1. Provide our community with trusted science-backed information as the facts develop in-real-time

2. Adapt and evolve our service model in response to changing protocols and our patients’ clinical needs

3. Actively contribute to the global public health effort by encouraging social distancing, appropriate triage, and guiding patients to testing appropriately

In line with these principles, we will now provide antibody testing (more on antibodies to come) in partnership with Quest Diagnostics.

There are still many unknowns about Covid-19, in particular, the specifics of the immunity provided by antibodies. There is uncertainty about how long immunity may last and if someone with antibodies can still pass the illness. But there are also things we do know… we know that wide-spread testing (both diagnostic and antibody) deployed in tandem with well-designed studies will help scientists better grasp and understand this global pandemic and answer questions like:

How many people have been infected with the disease?
Who and how many people have spread the disease without knowing?
What proportion of infected people showed no symptoms?
How can officials better target intervention?

Starting today, you can book a Virtual Care appointment via video with a Tia Care Provider.

How it works

• Book a coronavirus risk assessment appointment (this will take place via video).
• Discuss with your Tia Care Provider your risk and any current or past symptoms to determine if this is the best time for you to get the antibody test.
• Get Tested — We’ve partnered with Quest Diagnostics to facilitate the antibody testing. After your video visit, your Tia Care Coordinator will set up your 10-minute in-person appointment at a convenient Quest location for you.
• Get Results in less than through a follow-up with your Tia Care Provider to learn what your results mean for you.

FAQs

What are antibodies?

Your immune system is made up of a large group of cells that protect you from foreign pathogens. The basic functional unit of “long-standing immunity” is a molecule called an antibody or immunoglobulin, in this case, IgG. Specialized white blood cells (often thought of as the soldiers) produce antibodies — proteins designed to recognize specific structures called antigens (the invaders). Foreign antigens are substances that are found on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, or bacteria. Antibodies adhere to foreign antigens signaling the rest of the immune system to destroy the invader. This process takes time to develop, often requiring several weeks. These newly made specific antibodies remain in the body for differing amounts of time depending on the illness. It is the job of these antibodies to remember the invader so that if the virus returns they are equipped to fight back quickly and smartly. Because Covid-19 is a novel (new) virus, scientists and clinicians do not yet know if and for how long antibodies may provide future immunity.

What is antibody testing?

Antibody tests take a sample of blood to test if your immune system has produced any antibodies in response to an infection. They cannot detect active infections or a complete recovery but they can tell you if you were previously infected.

Are antibody tests accurate?

We are using the serological test from Abbot (Quest) which, when used correctly (14 days after the end of symptoms) is 99.1% accurate. The antibody test should only be conducted 2–4 weeks after the end of symptoms because it takes that amount of time for the body to produce IgG antibodies which the test is measuring. We stand by the quality of this test and believe it is an important service to provide to our patients. At this time we are not offering at-home rapid testing due to the lack of accuracy.

Who can get an antibody test through Tia?

Any Tia patient can request a test with an appointment whether you had Covid, think you might have had Covid, or have been exposed but have not had symptoms. If a patient is currently experiencing symptoms or symptoms that ended less than 14 days ago we recommend the patient waits to get the antibody test.

Who should not get the antibody test?

If you are sick or experiencing symptoms you should not get an antibody test and instead you should get a diagnostic nasal swab test. This test looks for the presence or absence of the specific Covid-19 RNA present in your body using a technique called PCR. In the early days of infection, when the body’s immune response is still building, antibodies may not be detectable, which is why serological (antibody) tests should not be used to diagnose or exclude infection with Covid-19.

How is the antibody test different than a Covid-19 test?

A diagnostic test tells you if you are actively infected with the virus and is conducted through a nasal swab. The antibody test shows if you have previously been infected and have since built up antibodies.

What do I do with the results? If I have antibodies, does that mean I can go back to living my life normally?

If antibodies are present, it indicates that you have been exposed to the virus and developed antibodies against it. This may mean that you have at least some immunity to the coronavirus. It is not known what quantity of antibodies are present (these tests are qualitative, not quantitative). This means even if you test positive for antibodies you are still encouraged to practice social distancing and wear a mask. There is not enough conclusive research yet to confirm that an individual with antibodies cannot get be reinfected with Covid-19. To ensure test results are understood and appropriate follow-up actions are taken, your Tia Provider will discuss your test results with you.

Does insurance cover my visit and testing?

As of April 24th, per the CARES Act, all antibody testing will be covered for both insured and uninsured patients. Coverage of the Tia Virtual Care visit needed to order the test may vary based on your insurance company. If you are paying cash, the out-of-pocket cost for your appointment would be $65.