What makes COVID-19 dangerous is that there is no vaccine for the virus and new therapies to treat it, are just starting, including here in Kern County. It was just over a month ago that the local owner of Arcpoint Labs started administering antibody tests to evaluate immunity in COVID-19 patients.
In just the past few weeks, the cost to have the test administrated has risen to $195. Individuals only have to get their blood drawn for results. Those lab results are expected in about 48 hours. Lab officials tell us this test is suppose to indicate a recent or past infection, or if the person has a potential immunity.
Leslie Elliot, with Arcpoint Labs tells 23ABC that she tests around 500 individuals a week. And while the test has not been reviewed by the FDA, the test has been approved under an emergency order by the FDA. A full FDA approval will take over a year to authorize.
The Kern County District Attorneys Office warns antibody tests coming from China are fraudulant. Elliot from Arcpoint labs says they are no longer using those specific tests.
