Free Coronavirus Antibody Testing Offered At Mahaffey Theater Site In St. Petersburg

From the Pinellas County Government:

August 18, 2020

Beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 19, residents will be able to receive free testing for antibodies to the COVID-19 coronavirus at the County’s drive-up testing site outside of the Duke Energy for the Arts Mahaffey Theater, 400 1st St. S., St. Petersburg. Antibody testing will be available from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday, for as long as supplies last.

The test is done by blood draw and checks to see whether a person has developed the antibodies to fight COVID-19. A positive test is not conclusive for a prior COVID-19 infection, as it can pick up antibodies from another coronavirus. It is important to note that even if a person has had COVID-19, there is no conclusive evidence at this time that he or she cannot become infected again.

No referral or pre-registration is required to receive the antibody test. But individuals planning to get the test are asked to complete, print, and bring this form with them to the testing site: English form, Spanish form. About 200 antibody tests are available per day, as supplied by the state. Antigen testing to determine whether a person has an active COVID-19 infection will continue Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Mahaffey Theater testing site is state-supported in collaboration with Pinellas County, the Florida Department of Health, Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County and community partners.

This press release was produced by the Pinellas County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.