*Photograph: Diarmuid Greene
An antibody testing service has been launched at Shannon Airport.
Irish healthcare company RocDoc on Wednesday launched an Antibody testing service at its facility in Shannon Airport. Antibody testing can determine whether or not an individual has developed an immunity to Covid-19, either through a vaccine or through contracting Covid-19 previously.
The antibody test can determine whether or not the vaccine has worked in providing an immunity to the virus. RocDoc’s test can also determine whether or not an individual has a strong or weak immunity to Covid-19.
RocDoc Chief Executive, David Rock expressed their pleasure at being able to offer the service. “Our test detects IgG and IgM antibodies, which can be found in both natural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity. This means that our test can tell you whether the vaccine is working or can provide an indication as to whether you have had Covid-19 in the past”.
This test is conducted differently to other COVID-19 tests, he explained. “The antibody test involves a small finger prick, where small droplets of blood are taken from the finger, dropped into a container and sent to the laboratory for analysis. It is the same process as a blood sugar test, which people with diabetes will be very familiar with. The test is extremely accurate, with a specificity of 99.98% and a sensitivity of 98.8%”.
The test is available to the public at Coach Park 2 at Shannon Airport. People seeking to book an antibody test can visit www.covidcheck.ie.
