Thumbay Labs launches most affordable COVID-19 antibody test in UAE

Mangalore Today News Network

Dubai, July 13, 2020:     Thumbay Labs - the UAE’s leading private diagnostic referral laboratory network, has launched the most affordable and accurate COVID-19 antibody test in Dubai. Authorised by Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and priced at just AED 200, the results will be provided in person or by email in a record three hours’ time. The test will be done on fully automated and highly sophisticated system using the Electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) method that uses plasma, or serum samples. The COVID-19 antibody test can be availed by all UAE residents, businesses, tourists, etc. exclusively at Thumbay Hospital, located near Stadium Metro Station in Al Qusais, Dubai.

The COVID-19 Antibody test is recommended to know the infection status in individuals who may have had mild or no symptoms. It will be invaluable to determine the infection prevalence in high-risk people, such as frontline workers engaged in healthcare, retail, essential services, schools, companies, law enforcement, areas with high concentration such as labour camps, ships, taxi & bus drivers, security guards, meat factories, oil field – offshore workers, etc. In these cases, it will not only determine previous infection status, but can also be used to give them infection clearance and allow them to return to work.
 
Commenting on the benefits of getting a COVID-19 Antibody test, Dr. Nasir Parwaiz, Director of Thumbay Labs, said, “As per WHO, 80% of the COVID-19 infections are mild or asymptomatic. Hence, antibody test will be useful in determining if a person had the infection without knowing. Antibodies takes 1 to 3 weeks to develop after infection, and its presence might indicate reduced infectiousness as well as some level of protection from reinfection. It can be invaluable for cases presenting late in the infection when PCR test is likely to be negative. Moreover, a person recovered from COVID-19 infection may take this test to determine his eligibility if he wishes to donate plasma for treatment of COVID-19 patients.’’

While confirming that Thumbay Labs can conduct up to 4,000 COVID-19 Antibody tests per day, Dr. Parwaiz also noted that it is important to understand that an antibody test does not detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself, but the antibodies made by the immune system against the virus. He further added that the antibody test can be used to determine whether a person will be requiring COVID-19 vaccine once it is available in the future. The antibody test also has important public health application as it will contribute towards epidemiological studies of disease prevalence in the community which will help in getting an accurate estimate of the case fatality rate, and determine who are at the risk of infection during contact tracing, he explained.
 
A positive antibody test will be useful if you are travelling to a country with a significant outbreak or in the event of a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. As normal operations resume across the UAE and the rest of the world, especially in business, sports and in the educational sectors, it will help organisations minimise risks if they are able to evaluate the collective immunity of the workforce/students and take measures accordingly. Knowing that you already have antibodies against COVID-19 can provide peace of mind to the people who work with you and also to yourself.
 
Anyone seeking to undergo the COVID-19 Antibody test may simply walk in from 9 am to 6 pm or book an appointment by calling Thumbay Hospital Dubai on 04 603 05555 or 0566806455 (WhatsApp). A valid Emirates ID or passport is required to proceed with the antibody test. Thumbay Labs, owned by the well-established Thumbay Group, also offers home collections as well as mass sample collection services for the COVID-19 Antibody test.
 
The UAE is among the leading countries of the world in terms of number of diagnostic tests conducted for coronavirus detection. The WHO has already acknowledged UAE’s status as the country with the most per capita testing numbers. Thumbay Group has been an active participant in UAE’s fight against COVID pandemic, and Thumbay Labs’ new COVID-19 Antibody testing will greatly augments the coronavirus-testing facilities of the UAE.