New COVID Immunity Testing Approved For Use At Bergen New Bridge

PARAMUS, NJ — Bergen New Bridge Medical Center has received Emergency Use Authorization from the Food and Drug Administration for an antibody test that accounts for COVID-19 immunity after a person has been vaccinated.

Hospital officials said this test will help physicians recognize vaccine generated immunity versus autoimmunity from a prior COVID-19 infection in their patients. New Bridge is the first hospital in the state to offer the test, officials said.

"I am proud to continue to lead the way in COVID-19 mitigation and management," said Bergen New Bridge Medical Center President and CEO Deborah Visconi.

"As we work toward achieving community immunity, this test will become an essential weapon in our COVID-19 arsenal so those who have had the virus, or received the vaccine, can begin to understand and gauge their levels of immunity. This information will be essential to track our continued virus protection as we emerge from this pandemic."

The antibody testing uses the Abbott platform for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) IgG Spike protein, semi-quantitative assay.

So why is that important, and how is it different from other antibody testing?

The tests find COVID-19 antibodies that are generated as part of the immune response to recent or prior infection, or as vaccine response. Current tests approved for use for antibody testing don't test for antibodies generated from a vaccine.

This new test, therefore, offers both physicians and those who've been vaccinated a look into how their bodies are responding to the COVID-19 vaccine by measuring antibody levels.

New Bridge is ready to offer the test, but said people who've had COVID-19 should wait 15 or more days after their first signs of symptoms, or from their diagnosis date.

The test requires a physician’s prescription.

Tests can be scheduled by calling 201.225.7130 if a prescription has already been written, or to schedule a physician consultation about obtaining one.

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