SAN ANTONIO – As more companies are putting antibody tests on the market, Doctor Ruth Berggren with UT Health and the city’s transition task force warns that not all tests are reliable.
“Here in San Antonio it’s very likely that a positive test is no better than a coin toss,” Berggren said. False positives could be detrimental to slowing the spread if people change their behavior and safety precautions based on their antibody test results.
Berggren stresses that false positives are common, therefore a positive result doesn’t mean someone cannot still get sick. Also, Berggren says experts still don’t know how long protection from true antibodies may last.
Some KSAT viewers are asking, “Who should get an antibody test?”
Berggren says she fully endorses antibody testing in people who are known to have recovered from the virus.
“People who have recovered from COVID-19 may have antibodies at a very high level that could help someone else get over the disease who is critically ill,” Berggren explained.
Watch Dr. Berggren’s full interview on the News at 9.
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