Why Antibody Testing is Important Tests to detect antibody responses to COVID-19 in the population will be critical to support the development of vaccines. It will also add to our understanding of the extent of infection among people who were slightly ill but did not qualify for testing when we had a limited number of tests available. This additional information can help us have a more accurate number of those infected. This test is not a diagnostic test. Antibodies are created, in measurable amounts, approximately 2 weeks after the onset of illness. This is the recovery phase, when many of the opportunities for clinical interventions on interruption of disease transmission have already passed. So why would someone want this test? Primarily because they want to know if they have been exposed. Some might want be counted so we can increase our knowledge about how this has affected us in Taos. What is important to know? This test is a blood draw and it is necessary that patients have had no symptoms of COVID-19 for at least 2 weeks. It is not yet known if the presence of antibodies means you have immunity to a second infection. It should not change the behaviors we have developed in the last 2 months to: Antibody testing available now. Wash hands often. Do not touch your face. TAOS Urgentcare Wear a mask in public. WHERE CARE COMES FIRST Practice social distancing. 575-758-1414 7 DAYS taosurgentcare.com Why Antibody Testing is Important Tests to detect antibody responses to COVID-19 in the population will be critical to support the development of vaccines. It will also add to our understanding of the extent of infection among people who were slightly ill but did not qualify for testing when we had a limited number of tests available. This additional information can help us have a more accurate number of those infected. This test is not a diagnostic test. Antibodies are created, in measurable amounts, approximately 2 weeks after the onset of illness. This is the recovery phase, when many of the opportunities for clinical interventions on interruption of disease transmission have already passed. So why would someone want this test? Primarily because they want to know if they have been exposed. Some might want be counted so we can increase our knowledge about how this has affected us in Taos. What is important to know? This test is a blood draw and it is necessary that patients have had no symptoms of COVID-19 for at least 2 weeks. It is not yet known if the presence of antibodies means you have immunity to a second infection. It should not change the behaviors we have developed in the last 2 months to: Antibody testing available now. Wash hands often. Do not touch your face. TAOS Urgentcare Wear a mask in public. WHERE CARE COMES FIRST Practice social distancing. 575-758-1414 7 DAYS taosurgentcare.com