Wisconsin To Conduct Antibody, Wastewater COVID-19 Tests

MILWAUKEE, WI — Wisconsin health officials say they're conducting two new COVID-19 tests in the state to learn more about the virus and its spread.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services officials say they're partnering with several organizations to conduct a statewide COVID-19 antibody test and a COVID-19 wastewater test.

Health officials say these studies will provide researchers and public health experts with a better understanding of where COVID-19 has been and help identify communities that may be at risk for future outbreaks.

“One of the most challenging things about COVID-19 is that as a new virus, there is still so much to learn”, said DHS Secretary-designee Andrea Palm in a statement. “That is why this type of research is essential to our statewide efforts and until there is a vaccine, we must do everything we can to protect our communities and ensure that we are safely reopening the state.”

Wastewater Test

Health officials said the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene is working with researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Department of Natural Resources on the wastewater test.

The study will test samples from wastewater treatment facilities in both populated areas and rural portions of the state in order to determine the current concentration levels of virus genetic material found in the sewage.

If the virus is detected or virus quantities are increasing, public health officials say they can proactively adopt measures to minimize transmission of the virus and prepare for a surge.

Antibody Test

Health officials say the "Past Antibody COVID-19 Community Survey" will determine the prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies throughout the state.

Antibodies indicate if a person has been infected with COVID-19 in the past, even if they did not experience symptoms. Health officials say antibody testing helps in understanding how many people were infected with COVID-19; it does not provide information regarding the current amount of positive cases and is not an alternative to diagnostic testing.

Study participants will receive antibody testing quarterly over the course of the next year, health officials said.

“The Survey of the Health of Wisconsin will recruit individuals who have participated in SHOW in the past. Past participants are from ten randomly selected counties and the city of Milwaukee. The participants represent a population of residents from across the entire state,” said Kristen Malecki, Director and Principal investigator for the SHOW program, said.