OBI To Offer Antibody Testing Again

Oklahoma Blood Institute has relaunched their COVID-19 antibody testing once again.

OBI preformed the antibody testing at the beginning of the pandemic from July 2020 to May 2021. In that testing period, the OBI did nearly 300,000 tests with a 16% positivity rate.

OBI uses an IgG antibody test created by Abbott, which measures antibodies from natural COVID infection, and the antibodies produced as a result.

The test will not measure the vaccine response, which is created through a different mechanism. 

"The more you know about your own immunity the more comfort that can give you because it is a wider rage than what you can get from a vaccine," said Dr. John Armitage, the president and CEO of the OBI.

Armitage said the COVID antibody test is added to the typical testing they do on a blood donation and can detect a natural infection.

"Our test doesn't determine spike protein levels that are vaccinated antibodies," said Armitage.

But he said just because a test comes back negative doesn't mean someone hasn't been infected before.

"Over time antibodies do diminish. So, we can't guarantee if we come back with a negative you didn't have a case 10 or 15 months ago that was mild," said Armitage. "And your immune system didn't kick up a really strong response."

If you would like to get the antibody test you can go to obi.org or call 1-877-340-8777.