President U.S. Vice President Pence said at the White House press conference on April 10 that the United States will soon promote the New Coronavirus antibody test nationwide to determine who has been infected. On the same day, Los Angeles County, California took the lead in conducting antibody testing for 1,000 people. The National Institutes of Health announced on the same day that it has launched a new study of antibody testing on a scale of 10,000 people.
What is the role of antibody detection? how to proceed? Why did the United States quickly start this detection method?
Unlike nucleic acid testing, which aims to confirm whether the human body is infected with new coronavirus at the time of testing, the main function of antibody testing is to confirm whether the tested person has been infected with the virus.
Antibody detection is relatively simple, just collect fingertip blood to detect the presence of new coronavirus specific antibodies in the blood. If a person’s blood contains the corresponding antibody, which means that he has been infected with new corona virus and there are immune cells in the body that can resist the virus, then the person’s risk of being infected with new corona virus is also lower.
Los Angeles County set up six “driving channel” test points on April 10 to randomly test blood from 1,000 people, and then repeat antibody tests on these people every two weeks thereafter To track the spread of the new coronavirus.
Anthony Fodge, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that antibody testing helps to understand and evaluate the spread and penetration of the new coronavirus throughout society degree. A number of companies in the United States are developing antibody test kits, and a large number of antibody tests can be conducted nationwide in the next few days or weeks.
Research and promotion of rapid antibody testing in the United States will not only help to test the effectiveness of existing prevention and control measures, but also be able to eliminate restrictions such as the “Home Order” , When to resume work and other decisions to provide reference.
Niraj Sud, associate dean of the University of Southern California ’s School of Public Policy, said that combining antibody testing with nucleic acid testing will tell if a person will Spread the new coronavirus and whether it is immune to the virus, so you can judge whether it can return to work. This is especially important for front-line workers such as medical staff and staff in positions such as supermarkets, pharmacies, and garbage disposal.
In addition, antibody testing can provide a clearer answer to many problems, such as the high proportion of asymptomatic infections and which people are susceptible.