Concerned About the Novel Coronavirus? Receive a COVID-19 Antibody Test in Tampa, FL

At South Tampa Immediate Care, we are doing everything possible to help keep our patients in Tampa, Florida, safe and healthy during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We are now pleased to offer a COVID-19 antibody test.

Unlike a nasal swab test,* which is performed to diagnose an active infection, a COVID-19 antibody test is not used for diagnostic purposes. Instead, this relatively simple blood test is used to identify a prior COVID-19 infection. Specifically, it examines a blood sample for the presence of certain proteins (antibodies) that are produced by the body’s immune system in response to a COVID-19 exposure.

What Does a Positive COVID-19 Antibody Test Result Mean?

If COVID-19 antibodies are detected in your blood, it suggests that you were exposed to the novel coronavirus sometime in the past. Therefore, you may have developed some level of immunity to it.

With that said, it is important to understand that COVID-19 is a brand-new virus, and there is still much to be learned about it. Additional research is needed before scientists can conclusively determine the level of protection provided by COVID-19 antibodies. However, based on what scientists know about other coronaviruses, such as SARS and MERS, it is reasonable to assume that COVID-19 antibodies provide at least some level of protection against reinfection.

It Is Still Essential to Take Steps to Minimize the Spread of COVID-19

Even if your COVID-19 antibody test produces a positive result—which suggests that you have already been infected by the novel coronavirus and recovered from the infection—it is still important for you to adhere to the latest safety standards communicated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Currently, these include staying at home as much as possible, wearing a cloth face mask in public places, and washing your hands thoroughly and often. While you may have a lower risk of contracting a COVID-19 infection than someone who was not previously infected, you could still be contagious and transmit the virus to others.

If you have questions or are interested in receiving a COVID-19 antibody test, contact or visit South Tampa Immediate Care in Tampa, FL, today. To protect your health, we are taking special COVID-19 safety precautions in our urgent care center.

*Available at South Tampa Immediate Care.