The University of Washington Virology Lab is launching its coronavirus antibody testing Tuesday.
That’s important because the test is a step in the direction of creating a vaccine because it identifies antibodies in a person’s system. Those antibodies indicate a person’s body was able to fight off the virus.
The blood test is different from the nasal or throat swab test which looks for the live virus. The swab test would show if a person currently is infected with the coronavirus, but it doesn’t show if the person beat the disease.
UW’s lab has the ability to process thousands of tests each day, which will be key as the test becomes more readily available. The blood draw must be ordered by a physician.