Curious if you had COVID-19 in the past? Moore Regional Hospital-Hoke campus is now offering free antibody testing for COVID-19, as part of a coronavirus prevalence study in Hoke County.
The study plans to collect data to determine the scope and spread of the virus in the region. It will offer free COVID-19 antibody testing to residents in Hoke County.
Testing is a blood draw and is used to look for antibodies in the blood sample. When antibodies are found (a positive test result), it means that a person was infected with COVID-19 at some point in the past.
The antibody test is not a test to diagnose COVID-19, it is only used to determine if you may have had COVID-19 in the past and now have antibodies against the virus. People develop antibodies when their body’s immune system responds to an infection. These antibodies can be found in the blood of people previously infected, whether or not they had signs or symptoms of illness.
Led by FirstHealth infectious diseases physician Dr. Gretchen Arnoczy, data from the study will be analyzed to determine how widespread the virus is in our community and which populations have been most impacted.
According to Arnoczy, recent publications estimate an average of 40 to 50 percent of COVID-19 cases are mild or asymptomatic and go undetected in our communities. Antibody tests for COVID-19 have the potential to inform good public health decision making during the pandemic.
“Like many areas of the country, central North Carolina has had limitations in testing availability, particularly in the early phase of the epidemic,” Arnoczy said in a statement. “As of mid-June, our testing positivity rate for our system was approximately 10 percent. Our testing has included not only symptomatic people presenting to our clinics and hospitals but also asymptomatic people being evaluated during outbreak settings.”
Testing is completely free of charge for participants. You must be at least 18 years old to participate.
Individuals who are interested in participating in the COVID-19 prevalence study should reside in Hoke County and must enroll online at www.firsthealth.org/COVIDstudy. Testing will be performed from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 26 at the Physician Office and Specialty Center at Moore Regional Hospital-Hoke, located at 6322 Fayetteville Road in Raeford. Participants will need to select a time slot online for an appointment.
Participants must complete a consent form prior to testing. All participants will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms, including temperature monitoring, prior to entering the building and must wear a mask. Only participants in the study will be allowed in the facility.
Participants are encouraged to enroll in FirstHealth’s secure online patient portal, MyChart, prior to getting tested. This will expedite the process and allow participants to access their results online within 24 to 72 hours. To register for FirstHealth MyChart, visit www.firsthealthmychart.org.
To learn more about FirstHealth’s COVID-19 prevalence study and to enroll, visit www.firsthealth.org/COVIDstudy.
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