Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) is now offering antibody testing for COVID-19.

Patients who would like to know if they have had COVID-19 should contact their primary care provider who will then order a test through the BVHS outpatient laboratory.

Unlike the nasal swabs that test for active COVID-19 infections, the antibody test is taken through a blood draw. The antibodies will typically show-up about one to two weeks after someone has been infected with COVID-19. 

The BVHS outpatient laboratory is working in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic to test for antibodies.

Once a patient has completed a blood draw, it is then sent to Mayo Clinic to be tested. It takes approximately 72 hours to receive results.

The primary care provider will then contact the patient with their results. Please check with your insurance company to see if they cover COVID-19 antibody testing.

“We do not know for certain that having COVID-19 antibodies gives people immunity, but this testing will give us a better idea of how many people within our community have been infected,” shared Bonnie VanSchoik, director of laboratory services.

“We do not want to give people the idea that they are now protected. Everyone should continue to use precautions such as wearing a mask in public, social distancing and washing hands regularly.”

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as cough, difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell, you should seek diagnostic nasal swab testing. 

 Please call the BVHS Triage & Testing Center in Bluffton at 419-369-2399 to initiate pre-screening efforts. If it is an emergency, please dial 911.