COVID-19 Testing Now
SARS-COV-2
Virus RNA
Antibody
Antigen
Expanding access to testing for everyone
SARS-COV2 (COVID-19) Testing
The US has been slow to embrace widespread testing for SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. But today testing is more convenient and accessible than ever.
The paradigm has shifted.
With many still not vaccinated and the emergence of new variant strains, some travel destinations and events are still requiring negative test results.
Know your status with FDA authorized Antigen and Antibody testing.
- Delta is more contagious than the other virus strains.
Delta is spreading 50% faster than Alpha, which was 50% more contagious than the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 in a completely unmitigated environment here no one is vaccinated or wearing masks
- Unvaccinated people, the older and the young are at highest risk.
People who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are most at risk, plus children and adults under 50 are 2.5 times more likely to become infected with Delta.
- Vaccination is the best protection against Delta.
Authorized vaccines are likely giving some protection against Delta. Moderna has reported its vaccine to be modestly effective against Delta and other mutations. Johnson & Johnson also has reported that its vaccine is effective against the Delta variant.
(07/17/2021)
Patrick R Yassini, MD ABIHM
Medical Director and Provider, Peak Health Group
- You currently have no symptoms of infection such as fever or cough
- You may have been exposed to someone known or suspected of COVID-19 infection
- You are about to travel for any reason and your destination requires proof of negative
- You are a member of a high-impact group (for example, one of the following)
High Risk
You are at high risk of complication because of advanced age, heart or lung disease, or immuno-compromised.
Caregiver
As a key caregiver, you have no choice but to be in close contact to with individual at high risk.
HealthCare
You work in the healthcare setting and therefore are exposed routinely to sick individuals of unknown COVID Status.
Business
A worker in an essential business, you are routinely exposed to the general population many of them symptomatic
In some situations, knowing your COVID-19 exposure status could make a big impact on life.
If this pertains to you, we will draw and process your sample for appropriate COVID-19 testing.
Samples will be sent to Danner laboratory (nasal swab) or Vibrant America (antibody) or processed on site.
Remember, if you have symptoms of infection, then you will NOT be tested as part of this project.
You must consult your doctor or go to an emergency/urgent care facility for suspected COVID-19 infections.
SARS-COV-2 Nasal DNA Amp Testing
non-hmo insurances plans are covering this test with a doctors order
Virtual Doctor's visit for documenting and ordering $50.
COVID-19 NAAT by Danner Labs now billing insurance
$50 (MD consult) *Lab will bill insurance
SARS-COV-2 Blood Antibody Testing
Blood spot Immunoglobulins IgG and IgM (in house)
FDA Authorized lateral flow assay detects SARS-COV-2 antibodies
know in as little as 10 min, if you've been exposed to the virus
$99 (MD Consult, Finger Stick, & In-house Lab Test)
* 50% off when added to nasal swab NAAT testing
COVID-19 ImmuneCheck Vibrant America (send out)
Vibrant America is still NOT accepting insurance payment for this test
Virtual Doctor's visit for documenting and ordering included
$50 (Consult, Blood Draw & Processing) + $119 (Lab Fee)
Why Not Testing Everyone?
The truth is COVID-19 testing is not being offered routinely to healthy asymptomatic individuals unless you happen to be a healthcare worker or first responder. Here are the reasons behind the current paradigm and my comments.
None of the COVID-19 testing available for and used in hospital settings are being diverted for this project. This is a new antibody blood test and not the nasal swab PCR test routinely used in the acute care setting. The only impact this project will have on critically ill hospitalized patients is that this may speed up the availability of tests by expanding the data collection funnel.
Even though there is no treatment available if positive, the results are still valuable. It is just more piece of information for some of us to consider in making the difficult decisions regarding contact with vulnerable populations in our lives.
Clearly, we must use caution at all times when contacting other particularly vulnerable people in the community regardless of our test results. There is an ongoing risk of exposure so we should not see a negative test result as a false sense of protection. However, the presence of IgG antibodies tested in this assay weeks after infection will likely be protective.
At the time of this writing, there are only two COVID-19 tests that I could find which are fully approved by the FDA. Several well-established clinical labs have developed tests which are in various stages of validation. With this project, we are supporting the data collection process needed for FDA clearance so tests production can be ramp up for mass availability sooner.
We have clear understanding of the antibody response from other similar infections. We know initially with exposure, IgM peaks and resolves after about two weeks. After that, we know the predominant antibody is IgG which remains even after symptoms resolve and is considered protective. Only with expanding data collection will we be able to correlate COVID-19 specific antibody profile with its clinical course.
This pandemic has had and will continue to have a devastating economic impact. If knowing information about antibody status empowers some of us to make better exposure decisions, then asymptomatic spread may be dampened slowing spread and speeding recovery as a nation.