Chester County First In Pennsylvania To Start COVID-19 Antibody Testing

Alexandria Hoff reports.

HE URGED RESIDENTS TO WEAR AMASK BUT TO MAKE SURE IT IS ACLOTH MASK AND LEAVE THE OTHERMASKS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.OFFICIALS IN CHESTER COUNTYANNOUNCED TODAY THEY WILL BEGINANTIBODY BLOOD TESTS.THIS MAKES THE COUNTY THE FIRSTIN THE COMMONWEALTH TO DO SO.ALEXANDRIA HOFF HAS MORE.Reporter: THE ANTIBODY BLOODTEST WILL BE GIVEN TO PRIORITYINDIVIDUALS THEY SERVE TOSUPPLEMENT NOT REPLACE THE SWABTESTS.IF THESE WORK OUT THE WAY WEBELIEVE THEY WILL, WE WILL HAVEMILLIONS ON THE MARKET BY MAY.Reporter: THAT MAY BE THECASE ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BUTIN CHESTER COUNTY ANTIBODYTESTING WILL BEGIN THIS WEEK.IT WILL DETERMINE THEPRESENCE OF ANTIBODIES TO THECORONAVIRUS TO INDIVIDUALS ANDHELP US IN THE MANAGEMENT OFTHIS PANDEMIC.THESE TESTS DO NOT REPLACETHE COVID-19 TESTING WHICH SHOWIF A PERSON CURRENTLY HAS THEVIRUS.ANTIBODY TESTING SHOWS IF APERSON HAD THE VIRUS BEFORE, ANDIF SO COULD HAVE BUILT UPIMMUNITY.WE CAN SORT OF TELL THEIRDISEASE HISTORY BY THEIR IMMUNERESPONSE, THEIR ANTIBODIES.Reporter: IN CHESTER COUNTYTHE PLAN IS TO FOCUS ON PRIORITYINDIVIDUALS BEGINNING WITH THECHESTER COUNTY PRISON AND YOUTHCENTER.THE STATE SENATOR CONNECTED WITHA SUPPLIER.IT ALLOWS US TO CLEARLYIDENTIFY WHO HAS HAD THE VIRUSAND THEN TAKE ACTION IN TERMS OFIN THE PRISON FOR EXAMPLE OFWHERE YOU PLACE PRISONERS ANDHOW YOU DO THIS BASED ON THISINFORMATION.Reporter: IN THE COMING WEEKSTHE TESTS WILL BE EXTENDED TOFIRST RESPONDERS AND HEALTHCAREWORKERS.DR. ROB DANOFF TELLS US POSITIVERESULTS MAY ALLEVIATE SOMESTRESS.THAT MIGHT HELP US AND SHOWUS IF WE'RE AT DECREASED RISKFOR GETTING THIS DISEASE ANDGIVE US MORE CONFIDENCE INHELPING PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLYSICK RIGHT NOW WITH IT.Reporter: THE GOAL IS TOBEGIN ANTIBODY TESTING FOR THEGENERAL PUBLIC..FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS SAYBEFORE THAT CAN HAPPEN, THETESTS ON THE MARKET MUST BEVETTED.IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEYACTUALLY DO WHAT THEY SAY THEYDO.Reporter: UNLIKE THE COVID-19TESTS, THE ANTIBODY TEST KITSHAVE BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE SOMETIME.SO NOTHING IS OFFICIALS DO NOTFORESEE ANY SHORTAGES.