Have you been looking for a COVID-19 antibody test to determine whether or not you've been infected by the virus? To Healthy Feet Podiatry is proud to announce that we are now able to provide COVID-19 antibody testing by appointment only.
Our beautiful city has been struck hard by COVID-19. Sadly, more than 13,000 people have passed away from the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 and more than 150,000 have been infected in NYC. But the real number of infections is predicted to be much higher than that second figure due to most COVID-19 cases presenting mild or benign symptoms. With that in mind, antibody testing has taken center stage as a means for determining whether a person has been infected with the virus after the fact. It's believed that those who have already been infected with SARS-CoV-2 are afforded immunity to the virus, at least for a short period of time. Because of this, antibody testing has been looked to as a way for frontline workers and other people to safely return to work and resume their lives in a way that resembles pre-pandemic conditions.
Our downtown and midtown Manhattan clinics can now provide COVID-19 antibody tests
To Healthy Feet Podiatry is now able to provide COVID-19 antibody testing from either our downtown or midtown Manhattan clinics. This blood test is available by appointment only, so please call 917-398-3668 to book yours today or fill out or contact form for further information.
Details about our COVID-19 antibody tests*
In order to continue providing safe care and service during these uncertain times, we've instituted the following procedure for our COVID-19 antibody tests:
- Appointments are scheduled 30 minutes apart to allow for thorough disinfection and to reduce the likelihood of virus transmission
- People who have active symptoms are asked to stay home
- The blood test takes 2-3 days in the lab to be completed
- The cost of the test is fully covered so long as you have some sort of insurance ($125 if you do not)
*It is important to note that as this test is new, it has not been reviewed by the FDA and a negative result does not rule out COVID-19 infection, especially for those individuals who have been exposed to the virus. Furthermore, this test should not be used to diagnose the virus.
What is antibody testing?
When our body faces off against a virus our immune system creates antibodies to fight it. By testing for the antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2 and finding them within a patient, we can determine that they've been infected with the disease and likely have built up an immunity against it, at least for a short period of time.
Looking to have the COVID-19 antibody test? Call us today at 917-398-3668 to book your appointment.
How does antibody testing work?
Unlike the current tests which diagnose COVID-19 through either a throat or nasal swab by looking for genetic evidence of the virus, antibody testing requires serology (a blood test) to see if our body's immune system has developed antibodies after fighting off SARS-CoV-2. The cool thing about antibodies is that each one is specific to the virus or bacteria that it was produced to fight, so we can single them out and determine whether or not a person has been infected with that specific virus. They also last a lot longer in our bodies than the genetic material of the virus, remaining present for weeks or months after infection.
Why is antibody testing important?
Antibody testing for COVID-19 is important because it may help identify those individuals who have recovered from the virus. These people most likely have developed some sort of protection or immunity against reinfection, allowing them to return to work or other activities safely. Because the antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 remain in the body for a much longer period of time than the genetic material of the virus itself, antibody testing is also a great tool for determining past infections. As we begin to shift to the next phase of this pandemic, antibody testing is also being looked at as a way to help return things to the way they were before the virus struck.
Call Us Today
To book your COVID-19 antibody test or to find out more about our telehealth services, and how our NYC foot doctors can help you manage any foot/ankle problems you may have during this uncertain time, contact us at 917-398-3668 or fill in our online contact form.
