Jersey City antibody testing will begin on May 4, announced Mayor Steven Fulop. The city expects to perform about 2,100 COVID-19 antibody tests per week.
“Today we signed a contract w/the lab to begin antibody testing for #JerseyCity residents,” tweeted Mayor Fulop. “We’ll start on Monday w/2100 tests per week (similar # to nasal swab that we’ll continue doing).”
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Front line workers will be tested first (Monday and Tuesday), and the general public can get tested starting Wednesday or Thursday. The mayor announced that testing will be free or charge for anyone who wants antibody testing.
How to get Jersey City antibody test
Appointments are necessary before you can get a Jersey City antibody test. To schedule your appointment, you must call (201) 547-5535.
Antibody testing doesn’t identify an active infection. Instead, it detects antibodies in the immune system that fight off the virus. Their presence indicates that a person was exposed to the virus and could potentially have immunity from being reinfected. However, it’s unclear if immunity exists and how long it could last. Another thing worth keeping in mind — many antibody tests haven’t been approved by the FDA and could result in false positives, reports Politico.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) also states that they don’t know if the antibodies that result from COVID-19 infection will provide someone with immunity from a future infection.
“CDC scientists are conducting studies to better understand the level of antibodies needed for protection, the duration of that protection, and the factors associated with whether a person develops a protective antibody response,” states the CDC website.
When will testing be available for Hoboken residents?
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