A new serology, or antibody, test for COVID-19 has been developed and is now in use by Mayo Clinic Laboratories. . Unlike the molecular diagnostic test for COVID-19, which determines if someone is currently infected with the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, serology tests detect a patient’s immune response to the virus by specifically looking for antibodies developed against the virus. These antibodies will attach to and essentially kill the virus.

In this Q&A, Dr. Elitza Theel, director of Mayo Clinic’s Infectious Disease Serology Laboratory, answers questions about antibody testing.

Read more:

More health and medical news on the Mayo Clinic News Network.

Journalists: Clean and nat sound versions of this pkg available for download at

Register (free) at