Where do IgG and IgM antibodies fit into COVID-19 testing? Here is how they are used.

What an antibody test does, is it tells an individual whether or not they've been exposed to the virus and developed an immune response. Clearly, some individuals want this information, and from a public health standpoint, understanding the progression of disease within a community is important.

There are also two other uses of antibody testing that are critical but are being discussed less. One is screening the population for convalescent plasma donors. This is a really important treatment for those who are critically ill. The other is when we have a vaccine available. Understanding the immune status of individuals and communities is important information to help plan the rollout of a vaccine.

In this video, see Julie Sawyer Montgomery, president of Beckman Coulter discuss the role of antibody tests in the fight against COVID-19.

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For more information visit, beckmancoulter.com/coronavirus.