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UC San Diego Health Launches Coronavirus Antibody Testing

A scientist presents an antibody test to use with a blood sample for the coronavirus earlier this month at a lab of the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology in Jena, Germany.
Jens Meyer AP
A scientist presents an antibody test to use with a blood sample for the coronavirus earlier this month at a lab of the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology in Jena, Germany.
The blood test detects who may have been infected, without experiencing any symptoms, and recovered from COVID-19.

UC San Diego Health has started testing patients and health care workers for the presence of novel coronavirus antibodies.

The antibody blood test can reveal who may have been infected, without experiencing any symptoms, and recovered from the virus that causes COVID-19. Widespread antibody testing is considered critical for lifting coronavirus restrictions and re-opening the economy.

But the presence of antibodies to the virus does not necessarily mean a person is immune. And, questions have been raised about the accuracy of some of the tests.

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RELATED: La Jolla Institute Leading Global Hunt For Antibodies To Coronavirus

Dr. Ronald McLawhon, director of UC San Diego Center for Advanced Laboratory Medicine, joined Midday Edition on Tuesday to discuss the latest developments in antibody testing.