Curious about whether you may have been exposed to the virus causing COVID-19 and developed antibodies? Sanford Health has a test for that, likely near you.
At nearly 50 sites in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota, whether or not you’re a Sanford Health patient, you can stop in and get a quick blood draw. No appointment needed.
The antibody test doesn’t test for an active COVID-19 infection. So if you currently have symptoms, test at home or contact your provider. A nasal swab is the appropriate test for active COVID-19 infections.
It can take up to three weeks after a COVID-19 infection for your body to develop antibodies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So a positive result from this test indicates vaccination or probable exposure at some point in the past.
Antibody test limitations
There are a few things you should know the Sanford Health antibody test can’t do. First, it can tell you whether you have antibodies, but not where they’re from — whether you got vaccinated, infected or both.
Right now, a positive test is not considered an indication of immunity. Studies have yet to determine whether antibodies offer protection from a second infection, or if there is protection, how long it may last.
But whether people might test positive or negative for antibodies, it shouldn’t affect their decisions, according to Dr. Susan Hoover, an infectious disease specialist with Sanford Health.
“You should not change your behavior in response to an antibody test,” she said. Vaccination, masking, social distancing, frequent hand-washing and other COVID-19 precautions still apply to everyone.
It’s also important to keep in mind that even with the antibody test’s high sensitivity, tests still may deliver false positives. And different methods of testing used elsewhere may not yield the same result.
Hope for antibody testing
Out of nearly 40,000 COVID-19 antibody tests Sanford Laboratories has processed for patients, the rate of positive tests was about 32%, according to Dan Ingemansen, senior director at Sanford Laboratories. The lab can process 1,000 antibody tests in a day.
If you come in to get tested at a Sanford Health facility, keep in mind that clinical safety recommendations will apply, including screening questions, mask-wearing and social distancing.
For now, antibody testing exists mainly to satisfy a person’s curiosity about, for example, whether your mystery illness earlier in the pandemic was COVID-19.
“This is an after-the-fact way to add an additional data point about whether you may have had it,” said Dr. Lorne Holland, senior director of clinical pathology at Sanford Health.
But he shares the ultimate goal of antibody testing for the virus causing COVID-19. “It would be nice if you could get that immunity passport,” he said.
Ideally, then, a certain antibody score would tell you you’re immune from being infected, like it can with infectious diseases such as measles or mumps. It doesn’t work for influenza, however, and whether it could for COVID-19 must yet be determined.
Here are more details about Sanford Health’s antibody testing.
Who can be tested? Do I need a referral?
Antibody testing is available to everyone and does not require a provider referral.
How soon will I get results?
You will receive a message in My Sanford Chart within three to four days of your test. If you don’t have a My Sanford Chart account, test results will be mailed to you.
What can I expect when I visit a testing location?
You should expect your visit to resemble a clinic visit. Adult patients are allowed one visitor, while pediatric patients are allowed two. All patients and visitors must wear a mask (cloth or surgical) at all times. The test includes a blood draw. You can expect to be in the clinic for around 20 minutes, just as you would for any other blood draw. Remember, payment is required at the time of service.
What will I be tested for?
You will be tested for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Antibodies are an immune system response formed to attack a virus.
What does a positive test mean?
At this time, a positive antibody test is presumed to mean a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19 or exposed to SARS-CoV-2 at some point in the past. It is currently unknown if having antibodies means you are protected against reinfection with SARS-CoV-2.
Will this test tell me if I have COVID-19?
No. This test will only detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and is not designed to detect an active infection of the virus. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, take an at-home test, schedule an e-visit or call your doctor’s office.
Where can I get the testing done? How do I schedule it?
Testing is available at the locations listed below. No appointment is necessary.
North Dakota
- Sanford Health Jamestown 2nd Ave. Clinic
- Sanford Health Wahpeton Clinic
- Sanford South Clinic (Bismarck)
- Sanford State Street Clinic (Bismarck)
- Sanford Southpointe Clinic Laboratory (Fargo)
- Sanford North Fargo Clinic Laboratory
- Sanford West Fargo Clinic Laboratory
- Sanford Children’s Southwest Clinic (Fargo)
- Sanford Medical Center Fargo
- Sanford Laboratories – Broadway Clinic (Fargo)
- Sanford Neuroscience Clinic (Fargo)
South Dakota
- Sanford Brandon Family Medicine & Children’s Clinic
- Sanford 32nd & Ellis Clinic (Sioux Falls)
- Sanford 26th & Sycamore Family Medicine (Sioux Falls)
- Sanford 69th & Minnesota Family Medicine (Sioux Falls)
- Sanford 69th & Louise Family Medicine (Sioux Falls)
- Sanford 4th and Sycamore Family Medicine (Sioux Falls)
- Sanford 49th & Oxbow Family Medicine (Sioux Falls)
- Sanford USD 34th & Kiwanis Family Medicine (Sioux Falls)
- Sanford Health Hartford Clinic
- Sanford Women’s Health Plaza (Sioux Falls)
- Sanford Internal Medicine Clinic (Sioux Falls)
- Sanford Sports Complex Acute Care and Orthopedic Fast Track Clinic (Sioux Falls)
- Sanford Health Beresford Clinic
- Sanford Health Brookings Clinic
- Sanford Canton Clinic
- Sanford Chamberlain Clinic
- Sanford Health Mitchell
- Sanford Health Watertown Clinic
- Sanford Aberdeen Clinic
- Sanford Laboratories – Medical Building 2 (MB2) (Sioux Falls)
- Sanford Laboratories – Rapid City
- Sanford Clear Lake
- Sanford Health Pierre Clinic
- Sanford Vermillion Clinic
- Sanford Webster Clinic
Minnesota
- Sanford Jackson Clinic
- Sanford Luverne Clinic
- Sanford Health Mountain Lake Clinic
- Sanford Health Broadway Clinic (Alexandria)
- Sanford Clinic Canby
- Sanford Health Detroit Lakes Clinic & Same Day Surgery Center
- Sanford Bagley Medical Center
- Sanford Bemidji Medical Center
- Sanford Thief River Falls Clinic
- Sanford Worthington Clinic
- Sanford Bemidji Main Clinic
- Sanford Bemidji- 1611 Anne St. Clinic
- Sanford Bemidji Blackduck Clinic
- Sanford Bemidji Walker Clinic
- Sanford Bagley Clinic
- Sanford Bagley Clearbrook Clinic
- Sanford Bemidji Cass Lake Clinic
- Sanford Health Kelliher Clinic
- Sanford Health Park Rapids Clinic
- Sanford Moorhead Campus Laboratory
- Sanford Tracy Clinic
- Sanford Health Windom Clinic
- Sanford Canby Clinic
- Sanford Westbrook Clinic
Iowa
Information in this story was accurate when it was posted. As the COVID-19 pandemic changes, scientific understanding and guidelines may have changed since the original publication date.
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