Coronavirus Antibody Testing Now In East Brunswick, Franklin Park

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — A Central Jersey urgent care facility is now offering coronavirus antibody testing at both their East Brunswick and Franklin Park locations.

The facility is called Brunswick Urgent Care. They are offering the antibody testing in addition to regular coronavirus testing, which is done via nasal swab.

Antibody testing is available for those people who have been diagnosed positive with COVID-19 and have been recovering for more than three weeks. The COVID-19 antibody test is a blood test sent to the laboratory that identifies antibodies (Ab-IgG) that show evidence of previous infection with COVID-19.

Patients need to be recovered from diagnosed or suspected COVID illness for more than three weeks before such antibodies are detectable in a blood sample, said the urgent care facility.

It also remains unknown what exactly antibody testing means: Positive antibody results could mean that many more people have had coronavirus, but just didn't know it. That would mean the virus' mortality rate is much lower than previously thought, although still likely higher than the seasonal flu.

Scientists also don't know yet that coronavirus recovery means one is unable from ever contracting the virus again. The concept of coronavirus immunity is described by researchers as "potential" at this point.

If you would like antibody testing or if you do not have symptoms but would like a regular coronavirus test, you do not need an appointment.

However, people with active symptoms such as fever, cough and muscle aches are asked to call ahead to schedule drive-thru testing. They schedule testing for those who are actively ill to reduce the chances of infection spreading, and try to limit that testing to under 30 people per day.

• Brunswick Urgent Care, East Brunswick

641 Route 18 South East Brunswick, NJ 08816 732-955-6765

• Brunswick Urgent Care, Franklin Park

3185 Route 27, Franklin Park, NJ 08823 732-422-4889