"We also don’t know if the antibodies detected are protective," she said. While antibody tests may satisfy people's curiosity about whether they have been infected, they are not considered very accurate, warned Wafaa El- Sadr, an epidemiology professor at Columbia University. In August, the New York City Department of Health revealed that a little over a quarter of more than 1.8 million tests taken in the city were positive for antibodies. But because antibodies can stay in the blood for several weeks after a person has recovered from COVID-19, an antibody test will not indicate whether an individual has an active coronavirus infection.įrom a public health standpoint, antibody tests provide important data, showing how extensively the virus has penetrated a community. The process involves submitting to a nasal or throat swab, or in some cases, a saliva specimen spit into a cup.Īn antibody test, which requires a blood sample, detects whether the body has antibodies produced by the immune system in response to the virus. Know the difference between diagnostic and antibody tests-and which one you should take.Ī diagnostic test, also known as a viral test, indicates whether a person has an active coronavirus infection. Here is a primer on testing, including a breakdown on some of the COVID-19 tests currently available in New York City. Tests processed on site should ensure a faster turnaround, she explained. Nonetheless, she encouraged New Yorkers to become "informed consumers" by learning the basics of testing and asking providers smart questions like what type of test they are giving and where the tests will be processed. Jen Rakeman, the head of the New York City Public Health Laboratory, told Gothamist. "We are still learning how well all of these tests perform," Dr. Experts say it's important to keep in mind that information on the reliability of these tests is still evolving.
There are now a myriad of tests, many of them boasting fast result times. The COVID testing landscape is still relatively new as well as complicated. Those who are in one of the hotspot zones are also urged to get tested frequently. New York City is now recommending monthly coronavirus testing for essential workers, including those who work in congregate settings, and most individuals who work outside their home. More indoor activity brought on by colder weather, along with the reopening of schools and restaurants, has made people more likely to be exposed to the virus.
#QLAB COVID TESTING NYC FREE#
There are now hundreds of free testing sites across the five boroughs, including mobile units in hotspot areas.Įasy access to testing has never been more critical.
The process has arguably never been easier or faster.
Every day, between 30,000 to 40,000 New York City residents get tested for COVID-19. By now, getting a coronavirus test has become old hat for some New Yorkers, part of the uneasy regimen that comes with living in a pandemic.
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