COVID-19 Antibody Testing Offered At Perry Hall Patient First

PERRY HALL, MD — Patient First now offers COVID-19 antibody testing at all of its Medical Centers on a walk-in basis, from 8 am to 10 pm, every day of the week. Appointments are not needed for antibody testing.

The antibody test is used to determine if someone previously had COVID-19 and not to diagnose an active infection.

Antibody testing is for patients who believe they may have had COVID-19 in the past, who are not currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, and who are at least 5 years old. Patient First recommends being tested at least 14 days after onset of symptoms of COVID-19, or 14 days after possible exposure, as it may take as long as two weeks for antibodies to develop.

The COVID-19 Antibody Test used at Patient First tests to see if the blood has antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the virus that causes COVID-19. Antibodies may be found in the blood when the body is responding or has responded to an infection, such as COVID-19. Antibodies may give full or partial immunity to the virus to which they develop. However, it is not known at this time how long the body will have antibodies or whether they actually give immunity to future infections from this virus.

Blood samples are sent to a third-party reference lab for antibody testing. Results will generally be available in about 2 to 5 days. Patients who agree to do so will receive their result via text message. Otherwise, patients will be contacted by phone about the result.

For most patients, there is no out-of-pocket expense for antibody testing. For insured patients, the visit will be submitted to patients' insurance plans. Patient First accepts all major insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. The lab will determine what, if anything, it bills the patient.

COVID-19 ACTIVE VIRUS TESTING

For those with symptoms of COVID-19, or who wish to determine if they have an active infection, Patient First also offers drive-up COVID-19 active virus testing at designated centers, by appointment. Appointments for testing are made by calling a select designated testing center. Updates about testing sites, instructions about how to make an appointment, and other information is available at www.patientfirst.com/covid-19-testing.

All Patient First Medical Centers remain open on a walk-in basis from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., every day, for patients who have an urgent need for medical or injury care.