UW Lab Will Test Thousands Daily For Past Coronavirus Infections

SEATTLE, WA — A new test at the University of Washington can determine whether a person was previously infected with the new coronavirus and has antibodies that could help protect them in the future, researchers announced Friday.

The UW Virology lab, which has processed the majority of COVID-19 tests in Washington, plans to begin running the new tests next week. Right now, the lab can process approximately 4,000 tests per day. Within two weeks, researchers hope to grow that number to 15,000.

"This starts to get us to the point that we can make a difference in the population of our area, get people back to work, and sort of give them back the lives that they were hoping for," said Dr. Keith Jerome, head of UW Virology.

Researchers said the new test, which requires a blood draw, is not meant for people with active illnesses since antibodies can take up to a week to appear after the initial infection. Instead, the test will reveal cases that went undetected and identify people who may be able to donate antibodies to help those still fighting the disease.

"Previously we've found the virus itself, and that's great if you're dealing with someone who is infected right now," Jerome said. "One of the other big questions we need to understand is: has an individual been infected in the past? We've all heard these stories, right? Somebody says 'Wow, I was really sick in February — did I have COVID?" And we haven't been able to tell them."

Jerome said it is still too early to know for certain what level of protection the antibodies provide, but what is already known about related illnesses offers some clues.

"From everything we know from other viruses, and other coronaviruses even, having those antibodies should give you some protection," Jerome said. "It may not be perfect protection."

Related: Recovered Washington Coronavirus Patients Asked To Donate Blood

According to Jerome, there is a possibility that someone who previously contracted the virus could be reinfected, but there is a high likelihood that symptoms would be less severe, and more akin to the common cold.

To verify the test's accuracy, the lab screened hundreds of specimens collected before the outbreak began, to check for false positives. Researchers said none of the tests returned positive for the antibodies. The lab also tested blood from patients with known infections, which all returned positive for the antibodies.

The new antibodies testing is slated to begin Monday, and will require a health care professional to draw the blood and order the test. As the lab works to build its capacity, researchers said the primary people who should seek testing first are front-line workers in higher-risk areas, including health care professionals, grocery store workers and those in workplaces with frequent public contacts.