Covid-19 antibody testing underway for some regional health and local authority staff

Covid-19 antibody testing is now underway for some health and local authority staff in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University (CTMU) Health Board region.

The Welsh Government is rolling out the antibody test, which is used to establish whether a person has been infected with coronavirus, in a phased way.

Antibody tests are currently only available in some education and healthcare settings. They are not available to the general public on individual request.

CTMU Health Board’s Director of Public Health Kelechi Nnoaham said: “Scientists are still learning about the virus, so these antibody tests will help us understand more about the body’s immune response and how the virus spreads.

“At the moment, we are only testing a sample of education and healthcare workers to help understand how the virus has spread in these settings.

“Until we know more, it’s important to understand that a positive antibody test doesn’t mean that someone is immune or that they can’t spread the virus.”

If someone gets a positive antibody test, they must still follow social distancing guidelines and get a test if they show symptoms in the future. They must also still self-isolate if they are asked to do so by a contact tracer.

There are two types of tests for Covid-19. While the antigen swab test tells you if you currently have the virus, the antibody blood test tells you if you have previously had the virus.                                  

If you have coronavirus symptoms, you must self-isolate and book an antigen swab test at a local test centre, or order a home Covid-19 testing kit.  

For more information on antibody testing visit the Welsh Government webpage here.