UArizona begins COVID-19 antibody testing for health care workers, first responders

UArizona begins COVID-19 antibody testing for health care workers, first responders

The University of Arizona is partnering with the state to analyze blood samples to determine who has been exposed and develop antibodies against COVID-19.

DEVELOP ANTIBODIES AGAINSTCOVID-19.

THE STATE ISPROVIDING 3-AND-A-HALF-MILLION DOLLARS -- TOTEST A QUARTER OF A MILLIONHEALTH CARE WORKERS -- ANDFIRST RESPONDERS.

A PROFESSORWORKING ON THE PROJECT --EXPLAINED TO KGUN 9 -- HOW THETEST WILL WORK.

"OUR TEST ISESSENTIALLY A LAB BASED TESTTHAT REQUIRES A BLOOD DRAW.BUT WHAT REALLY HELPS USREALLY DISTINGUISH TRULYPOSITIVE FROM NEGATIVE PEOPLEIS OUR ABILITY TO PUT A NUMBERON THE ANTIBODY VALUES AND SETSTRICT STATISTICAL THRESHOLDSTO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE WHOWE SAY IS NEGATIVE IS NEGATIVEAND THEN SOMEONE WHO WE SAY ISPOSITIVE IS TRULY POSSIBLE."THE UNIVERSITY WILL USESEPARATE FUNDING -- TO TESTMEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN PIMACOUNTY .

THESE TESTS WILL BEUSED TO COMPARE CASES -- INHEALTH WORKERS AND FIRSTRESPONDERS -- TO THOSE IN THEGENERAL PUBLIC.