NEWPORT, Ky. (WKRC) – As researchers work to create a vaccine for the coronavirus, a Northern Kentucky lab is doing its part to help protect people from getting coronavirus.
Ethos Laboratories is teaming up with the Genscript to offer the world’s first “Quantitative Surrogate Viral Neutralization Test to Evaluate COVID-19 Protective Immunity.” Simply put: a test that will not only tell you if you potentially had COVID-19, but also tell you how likely you are from preventing future infection.
“We think it’s a huge deal, actually. We think this is the test that can help plan for vaccine allocations down the road when a vaccine comes available,” said Ethos Laboratories President and CEO Brian Kincaid.
Kincaid says the Mayo Clinic and Lab Corp. are also working on a similar test, but it focuses on plasma donation not COVID-19 immunity.
“It takes a piece of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and it takes the antibodies that you have in your body and it says which one can get to this binding site first,” said Kincaid. “If the things in your body can get to that binding site first before the virus, that indicates protection and immunity for future infection.”
The Tru-Immune lab test will identify patients who have the most effective antibodies against COVID-19.
“There’s a lot of applications with this. It could have a significant impact in a short period of time,” said Kincaid.
Like identifying people who could be at a lower risk to contract the virus.
Kincaid says he’s waiting on the Food and Drug Administration for an Emergency Use Authorization to approve the test so that more people can be tested. He’s also waiting on a billing code approval for insurance.
“Currently, it is not covered by insurance because up until a couple of weeks ago, it did not exist.”
Right now, you can get the test at Arc Point Labs in Florence for $200.
