1. Why should one get tested for COVID-19?

• To check for the spread of Coronavirus
• To help monitoring agencies control the spread of Coronavirus
• To help the people ensure their safety
• To check if you can go back to work
• Identifying those with immunity and protective immunity, etc.

2. Who can get tested? - Anyone!

• If you have come in contact of COVID-19 positive person
• Those who do not have symptoms
• Those wanting to go to work: Healthcare workers, Police, people from containment zone, drivers, vendors, people wanting to travel abroad, etc.

3. What is an Antibody Test?

• An antibody test is a screening of antibodies or Immunoglobulins in your blood. The Immune system makes antibodies to protect the body from bacteria, allergens, infections/viruses like COVID-19.

4. What are the types of Antibodies / immunoglobulins?

• Immunoglobulin A (IgA): It’s found in the linings of respiratory tract and digestive system.
• Immunoglobulin M (IgM): Found mainly in blood and lymph fluids, it is the first antibody the body makes when it fights a new infection.
• Immunoglobulin G (IgG): This is the most common antibody. It's in blood and other body fluids, and protects against bacterial and viral infections. IgG can take time to form after an infection or immunization.

5. How is the Antibody Test performed?

Antibody Tests are measured from blood by two methods/technology performed using the Analysers/Machines:

• CLIA (Chemiluminescence): CLIA measures both – Total Antibody (IgA, IgM, IgG) and IgG Levels (One of the determining factors of Plasma Therapy)
• ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay): ELISAmeasures only IgG Levels

Our Lab has both Technology/Analyzers for performing Antibody Testing.

6. When should one do a COVID-19 total antibody test?

• It can be used in Patient Management as anaid in diagnosis of acute or past infection in conjunction with other tests or clinical information and can be used to detect immune response.

7. When should one do a COVID-19 IgG antibody test?

• It can be used to assess those who have acquired immunity so as to assess whether you can go back to work or to assess viral exposure in people.

8. What does a positive IgG test?

• A positive test shows individual may have been exposed to COVID-19 infection in past and developed antibodies of IgG Type.
• However, we don’t know yet if having antibodies to the virus that comes, COVID-19 Antibodies can protect someone from getting infected again or if they do how long this protection might last.

9. What is the sample requirement?

• 5 ml blood will be collected (either from your home or at our clinic)

10. What is the Turn-Around-Time for this test?

• Turn Around time is 8 hrs.

11. What is the Result accuracy?

• Results are accurate and precise as the system uses disposable tips thus ensuring no sample carryover and CLIA Kits are 100% sensitive and 100% specific.

12. What are the advanced features of CLIA - Chemiluminescence Technology?

• Fully automated
• Random-access
• High throughput walk away system (which is the latest & advanced technology with ease of use)
• True STAT facility
• Smart Sample Metering
• Save the Sample
• Clot detection management
• Bubble detection
• Liquid level sensing which will improve the quality of the reports thus ensuring accuracy of the reported results
• Patented Intellicheck Technology on ECiQ monitors each process and report the quality of every result reported to ensure the highest result integrity and confidence in reporting patient results