STHS offering antibody testing to public
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 27, 2020
ANTIBODY TESTING FOR COVID-19 AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC
COVINGTON – St. Tammany Health System continues to offer COVID-19 antibody testing at diagnostic clinics in both Mandeville and Covington.
No appointment is necessary, although patients will need a physician’s order and an activated MyChart account (STPH.org/MyChart) to receive a result. Patients may opt to use their health insurance or pay the $50 cash price at registration.
This qualitative, validated test checks for COVID-19 IgG antibodies, which increase slowly after an infection (usually two to four weeks after onset) and will be present for a protracted period. Antibody tests are not used to diagnose COVID-19 in patients with acute symptoms. Such patients should contact their primary care provider or call 985-898-4001.
Reactive results occur after a COVID-19 infection and can be indicative of an acute or recent infection. At this time it is not known how long these antibodies will persist or whether or not they infer immunity to COVID-19. Non-reactive tests do not preclude a current or previous COVID-19 infection.
STHS diagnostic centers are the Cordes Pavilion, 16300 Hwy 1085 in Covington, open weekdays 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., and the Mandeville Diagnostic Center, 201 St. Anne, Suite B, open weekdays 7 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Call 985-871-5665 for more information.
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St. Tammany Health System is the heartbeat of its community, caring for patients and families with excellence, compassion and teamwork; it will strengthen the health of its community with compassion, innovation and partnership and is recognized for quality, safety and the patient experience by CareChex, Leapfrog, Healthgrades, Hospital Compare, Women’s Choice and US News & World Report. St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 1 is an independent service district in a clinically integrated partnership with Ochsner Health . Together, the two organizations focus on aligning their healthcare offerings to best serve patients and families in west St. Tammany and surrounding areas. Under their agreement, each retains its autonomy; neither manages nor owns the other. Self-supporting, not-for-profit STHS receives no tax funding. More at stph.org.