Coronavirus antibody tests may not be reliable, but plenty of people want one

But the market is also being flooded with antibody tests, a blood test that can detect if someone has already had the virus and recovered.

"This is all about gathering information," said certified nurse practitioner Susie Catchings, whose employer, AvanceCare, recently informed patients it was offering antibody tests at local offices.

"Our phones have been ringing off the hook," Catchings said, calling demand for antibody testing astounding.

Anyone with no current signs of illness who does a quick telehealth visit is eligible to give blood for a test. Catchings said many of those calling were sick earlier this year.

"I saw a lot of patients who had flu-like illnesses who tested negative for the flu," she said.

Dr. Ross Boyce, as assistant professor in the UNC School of Medicine's Division of Infectious Diseases, said there are still so many unknowns about COVID-19, the illness associated with the virus, and antibody testing.

"I think my takeaway right now would be be careful. It’s just so hard to interpret the results," Boyce said.

While positive antibody tests are to be reported to local health departments, state health leaders said they're still working out ways to collect and decipher data.

Boyce said testing in more controlled research settings provides a more accurate picture.

"The last thing we want is for people to go out and get an antibody based test that comes back positive, and they think they're not at risk of infection again," he said. "We just don't know that to be the case."

In addition to false positives, he said, tests can't yet distinguish when someone was sick.

Wake County public health officials said they have some of the same concerns about interpreting the data and possible false results. Some of the current tests on the market will offer positive results, but it may be because the patient had a different strain of coronavirus, officials said.

Catchings said the concerns are valid but said widespread antibody testing can help.

"We want to do as much testing as possible because information is knowledge," she said.

AvanceCare’s website says the antibody test is covered by most insurance plans. For those who aren’t covered and want to be tested, the price is $100.