EUGENE, Ore. – April 29, 2020 – BestMed,a comprehensive provider of quality urgent care, primary care, physical therapy, and musculoskeletal services in Oregon and Montana, is now offering COVID-19 serological antibody tests at all clinic locations.
Serological tests for SARS-CoV-2 are intended for those individuals who either have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and had a negative molecular test, or those that were not tested when ill and now have recovered. This test determines the presence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Part of the excitement of the new testing, is that it will have the potential to be used for patients who were ill this spring and were unable to get a test because of limited capacity. According to BestMed Medical Director, Marc Schnapper M.D. BestMed’s ability to offer the serological antibody testing is part of its ongoing efforts to help our communities have a better understanding of the presence or absence of the disease.
“BestMed is committed to the well-being of our patients, and all those in our community,” said Schnapper. “Accurate and expedited testing is vital to containing the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Thanks to this new test we can further meet our goals of evaluating and treating patients.”
A positive serological test indicates that an individual may have produced an immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A negative test indicates that an individual has not developed detectable antibodies at the time of testing. The most common reason a person may have a negative result is when the test is performed early in the illness as it can take up to two weeks to develop an antibody response.
Individuals who have had COVID-19 symptoms and are interested in obtaining this test should visit one of BestMed’s clinics or use our telemedicine offering to determine if testing is needed. BestMed has taken substantial measures to segregate patients with respiratory illnesses from other patients to ensure the safety of patients, staff and the community. Our primary care clinics have been separated from urgent care facilites, and outdoor screening and separate entrances have been established to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
