The Blessing Hospital Laboratory is one of eight in a nine-state region to participate in a COVID-19 antibody testing research project with Roche, an international pharmaceutical and diagnostics company.

“Antibodies are produced by the immune system of an individual who has been exposed to COVID-19,” said Mary Frances Barthel, MD, Chief Quality and Safety Officer, Blessing Health System. “What the world medical community needs to know is how to interpret the production of those antibodies. How quickly do they develop? How long do they exist?  Do they produce any benefit, such as immunity to repeat infection? This research could answer those questions.”

“It is extremely important going forward to understand the penetration of the virus in a community, whether that community is a geographic area or a nursing home, because it is possible that up to 50 percent or more of people who contract the virus may show no symptoms,” she concluded.  “Studying the presence of antibodies in members of a community can help determine the actual prevalence of virus.”

Rex Schulz, MD, pathologist and medical director of the Blessing Hospital Laboratory, feels the Roche Cobas serology test for COVID-19 may be the best option to provide the answers doctors need at this time.

“There is great concern in the medical community around the world about the utilization of serology related to this virus,” he stated. Serology is the scientific study of blood serum, especially with regard to the response of the immune system to microorganism that can cause disease. “We are cautiously optimistic about the performance of the Roche Cobas serology test. The data we accumulate will be used by Roche as they work toward full Food & Drug Administration approval.”

Eric Dix, director, Blessing Hospital Laboratory, says preliminary data shows the Roche Cobas serology test detects antibodies directly related to the COVID-19 virus in 99.8 percent of cases. Other tests, he said, can mistakenly identify antibodies generated by other coronaviruses.

Among Blessing’s plans is to test members of its employee group for COVID-19 antibodies and to offer the testing to groups identified by hospitals regionally.

For more information on Roche’s COVID-19 antibody research go to https://www.roche.com/strongertogether/covid-19-antibodies-immunity.htm