Truck driver Oswaldo Monroy, 62, is examined for COVID-19 at an Worldwide Brotherhood of Teamsters testing web site, because the unfold of the coro
Truck driver Oswaldo Monroy, 62, is examined for COVID-19 at an Worldwide Brotherhood of Teamsters testing web site, because the unfold of the coronavirus illness (COVID-19) continues, in Wilmington, close to the Port of Los Angeles, California, June 25, 2020.
Lucy Nicholson | Reuters
The Meals and Drug Administration introduced on Friday that it has licensed the primary serology take a look at that screens for neutralizing antibodies brought on by a earlier coronavirus an infection.
Neutralizing antibodies stop viruses from infecting cells, although questions stay about how lengthy antibodies in opposition to Covid-19 final for and the way a lot safety they supply. The brand new serology take a look at will assist researchers examine the neutralizing antibodies, mentioned Dr. Tim Stenzel, director of the Workplace of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Well being within the FDA’s Heart for Gadgets and Radiological Well being.
“The power to detect neutralizing antibodies might help us achieve extra perception into what the existence of antibodies could imply for sufferers as we proceed the combat in opposition to COVID-19,” he mentioned in a press release. “There are nonetheless many unknowns about what the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies could inform us about potential immunity, however at present’s authorization provides us one other instrument to guage these antibodies as we proceed to analysis and examine this virus.”
Sufferers and well being suppliers mustn’t interpret the constructive outcomes of the take a look at to imply that sufferers are protected in opposition to Covid-19, the company mentioned. They need to nonetheless comply with public well being precautions, the FDA mentioned.
The FDA granted the emergency use authorization to GenScript USA, which manufactures the take a look at.