The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Local
    • Palmdale
    • Lancaster
    • Los Angeles County
    • Littlerock
    • Lake Los Angeles
    • Rosamond
    • Edwards AFB
    • Acton
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Advertise
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Show Search

COVID-19 rapid antibody testing now available at Ralphs SoCal pharmacies

by The AV Times Staff • October 28, 2020 Leave a Comment

[Image via National Institutes of Health]
LOS ANGELES – Ralphs became the first retailer in the United States to offer rapid antibody testing at its 77 pharmacy locations in Southern California and the Central Coast, the company announced Wednesday.

Results for the finger-prick blood test are typically available within 15 minutes and will help patients determine if they have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, according to a statement released by Ralphs.

The FDA-authorized rapid antibody tests, which are supplied by Whitmire Medical, are available for $25 to Ralphs customers who believe they may have previously been infected with COVID-19 and are not currently experiencing symptoms.

The Ralphs pharmacies nearest to the Antelope Valley areĀ  located at Hasley Canyon Village, 29675 The Old Rd. Castaic, and Northpark Village Square, 27760 Mcbean Pkwy. Valencia, according to the company’s website.

In September, the American Society for Microbiology reported that 73% of surveyed testing labs experienced a shortage of commercial testing kits for SARS-CoV-2, a capacity challenge that may have hindered testing accessibility for many Americans.

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in many states, Ralphs’ rapid antibody test may provide critical information about past infection to patients who believe they may have been exposed to the coronavirus but were unable to access testing at the time of infection, according to Ralphs Pharmacy Director Linh Lee.

“Making rapid antibody testing available at Ralphs pharmacies will not only provide an affordable and convenient testing solution for individuals who want to understand if they have previously been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, but also help clinicians understand the long-term impacts of COVID-19 and potential public health strategies for fighting the disease,” Lee said.

Ralphs’ rapid antibody tests are conducted by a licensed health professional using a fingerstick blood sample and the Assure COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Device, a rapid lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay — configured like a blood sugar test — to detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2.

The test was first authorized by the FDA for emergency use in July and further authorized for broader point-of-care use in September. Ralphs’ parent company, Kroger, is the first retailer to offer the testing solution to its customers, according to a company statement.

Research is still underway to determine how long antibodies are present following infection and if the presence of antibodies provides protective immunity. Regardless of the testing result, all patients should continue to practice FDA-recommended safety guidelines, including social distancing and wearing masks. The Assure COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test should not be used to diagnose an active infection, as the test only detects antibodies developed in response to the virus, not the virus itself.

–

Filed Under: Health, Home

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Comments

  • Claire on Help detectives find domestic violence suspect in Lancaster, robbery suspect in Palmdale [update: arrested]: “Salty… LOL, I thought the same thing. Thankful no one was hurt.” Jan 24, 16:12
  • Van Dammit on Op-ed: Protect nurses and the community now: “Thank you for saying what many of us think but cannot say in public because we fear for our jobs…” Jan 24, 15:52
  • tsparky on LA County surpasses 15K deaths; 5K since Christmas: “269 deaths with only 16 under the age of 50. Yet we are still prioritizing a 25 year old dental…” Jan 24, 12:30
  • Nick Montoya on Pedestrian struck, killed by car in Lancaster ID’d: “Right? How ignorant and just plain heartless these people are. I pray that none of your kids die at the…” Jan 24, 11:57
  • Mike on Op-ed: Kevin McCarthy and Mike Garcia must resign: “Two cops shot in los angles in the head, because the dems incited violence on the cops. Shut your mouth…” Jan 24, 10:44

© 2021 · The Antelope Valley Times. All rights reserved. Terms of Use