Kroger announced Wednesday that its pharmacies and clinics nationwide will offer rapid antibody testing for COVID-19 by the end of November.
The U.S. grocery store chain is the first retailer in the country to offer the test, which can detect coronavirus antibodies within 15 minutes, WSB-TV reported.
The FDA-authorized tests, which are already available in Michigan and California, are administered by a medical professional, conducted using a finger-prick blood sample, the TV station reported.
The tests are available to customers for $25, and anyone who believes they have previously been infected by the novel coronavirus but are not currently experiencing symptoms are eligible for testing, WJW reported.
“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 company stated in a news release. “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.”
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Cox Media Group
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