COVID-19 testing throughout the U.S. was behind in comparison to the rest of the world as only and according to many health experts, the United States only has enough tests for 2% of each state’s population as of April 27. However, as testing expands, Exer Urgent has opened 16 locations in Southern California for residents to take the antibody test. The test will determine if your body has developed antibodies to COVID-19. This does not mean anyone who tests positive with antibodies is immune, rather that they had/have the virus. 

These testing locations and practices have been approved by the FDA. 

Antibody tests use blood samples, not nasal swabs, and can determine if someone had COVID-19, then recovered. Antibody tests can only be taken after being symptom-free for 10 days. 

Exer Urgent Care warns that in order for them to provide optimum testing results, testing should be done 10 days after exposure/infection. Results will be given between 24 – 48 hours. Independently, L.A. city and county are now offering free COVID-19 testing to all residents, as L.A. county counts for almost ½ of California’s cases. 

In order to make use of the new Exer testing locations, one must be referred to a testing location by Exer’s VirtualCare portal or from an Exer clinic. Exer also recommends that if you are currently experiencing symptoms, it’s better to be tested with a nasal swab than with an antibody test. 

Many experts believe that until  COVID -19 testing is widespread, gaining control of the pandemic will be difficult. Students shared their opinion on the topic. 

“I believe testing should be free to all. Indeed, a sufficient amount of funding is crucial for medical research organizations that provide the tests and research,” senior Dan Dan said. “Therefore, I believe that the government should give the ‘war-time effort’ in the form of providing funds to medical research organizations.”

Junior Alette Laughton shared a similar opinion. 

“I think [tests] should be [at] reduced cost because while the tests can be expensive to make, many people have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 outbreak … Reduced costs would open up the tests to more people in Southern California who could not have afforded it otherwise,” Laughton said.

As L.A. becomes one of the first few major cities to offer free COVID-19 testing, many people are asking whether or not they’d want to take advantage of the expansion. 

As for whether or not he would take advantage of a testing center, Dan had the following to say:

“I would love to have my family and I get tested [for the virus] because I want to get more informed about my current health situation in terms of combating the virus,” Dan said. “It is also essential to know that the antibody test cannot tell the full story of the virus, so we should all keep following social distancing and other necessary restrictions and supporting the medical professionals.”