The Vancouver Clinic offers builders rapid COVID-19 testing
The Vancouver Clinic (TVC) can provide consultation and testing for COVID-19 as the building industry prepares to reopen under Phase 1. TVC wants to help local businesses get back to work as safely as possible.
TVC has 2 rapid testing sites now operational where they can provide a 24 hour or less turnaround. This along with the advice of physicians on appropriate infection control and safety should be a helpful combination in getting back to work.
As for antibody testing, TVC has that capability now with a reference lab and hope to have it in-house soon. They will update us when it’s housed in their clinics. It’s important to remember that these antibody tests are so new that reliability is still being determined. Also, it is important for people relying on this to realize that having the antibody does not mean that one is now immune to COVID-19.
The test TVC has available in large quantity and with quick turnaround is to test for presence of COVID-19. It is a point-in-time test but gives assurance that the people going back to work are not infected. TVC would counsel folks to continue precautions and symptom checking daily, especially if they’re interfacing with the public or a large quantity of people.
SARS-COV-2 IgG antibody testing (COVID-19 Serology)
- Typically, results are available in 2-3 business days — unless rapid testing is done
- Negative results do not rule out SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly in those who have been in contact with the virus or recently infected individuals who are still contagious. Follow-up testing with a molecular diagnostic should be considered to rule out infection in these individuals
- Positive results may be due to past or present infection with non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus strains, such as coronavirus HKU1, NL63, OC43, or 229E.
- The presence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG has not been established as conferring immunity at this time and should not be used as a basis to lift social distancing/PPE restrictions. The presence of IgG to SARS-CoV-2 indicates that the patient has mounted an immune response to the virus. Although the immune response may protect against reinfection, this has yet to be established. It is also not known how long antibodies to the virus will protect someone, if at all. Scientists are researching to answer these questions.