Three Public COVID-19 Test Programs, Questions About Antibody Testing Surface
Written by 991KBU on April 7, 2020
Testing capacity for the COVID 19 virus has dramatically increased at the three testing facilities available to Malibu residents.
There are three public tests efforts available to sick people or essential workers in Malibu now.
MIDDAY UPDATE: And there’s this note … the city’s website reports that two different tests are being administered at Malibu City Hall.
One of them is the familiar nasal swab test diagnoses active virus in patients.
The other test that is available is a blood test that detects antibodies to the virus in people who’ve been exposed and either recovered or never became ill.
Some listeners have contacted us to make sure that this second anti-body test is available.
The FDA approved such a test only three days ago on an emergency basis.
It is not clear if this is the test being used in Malibu … or if this antibody test is actually available.
If so this would be a dramatic development.
It would allow people to drop off a drop of blood and determine if they have the disease … or if they have ever had the disease.
An antibody test has been mentioned as the holy Grail of the search for a reliable Covid test.
We have calls in to city hall to see if this is indeed the case.
Thanks to sharp KBUU audience members for leading us to this aspect of the story.
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In no particular order … number one … we look at the Los Angeles county-wide system and its 13 test centers.
Testing capacity has gotten to the point that sites setup by the County and City of Los Angeles are no longer reserved just for people over the age of 65 years old.
People younger than that who are experiencing systems can now also register on website to queue up for a test.
Number two … the Malibu Urgent Care/Malibu Foundation-funded free test site has run thru and tested its list of sick people… in their cars.
Malibu Urgent Care will hold a second day of drive-through COVID 19 testing today.
There were 35 tests available for reservation as of this morning.
These tests are administered by Malibu Urgent Care and sponsored by the Malibu Foundation.
And number three … again in no particular order … are the tests being administered by the City of Malibu.
Today is again reserved for essential workers … like grocery store employees … and first-line responders.
Yesterday … California Highway Patrol officers and other public servants were seen getting tested.
Two different tests are being administered at Malibu City Hall.
The nasal swab test diagnoses active virus in patients is available for $125.
The blood test detects antibodies to the virus in people who’ve been exposed and either recovered or never became ill … is available for $75.
Both tests can be had for $175.
Persons with insurance will likely not have to pay for it.
And the Malibu City Hall site is offering free testing to first-responders, essential workers and sick Malibu residents…. today.
Starting tomorrow … Malibu residents who live in the Woolsey-Fire affected area will be prioritized.
Also getting priority will be persons displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
Also … individuals meeting the following criteria:
– those aged 60 or older
– those with underlying medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease (heart failure, ischemic heart disease, or valvular heart disease), lung disease (asthma, emphysema/COPD), diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, or smoking
– those with a history of immunosuppression, such as patients with active cancer, history of transplant, HIV, or those taking immunosuppressive medications
The city testing is led by Dr. Matthew Abinante of Elevated Health in Huntington Beach, CA in partnership with CORE, Sean Penn’s emergency and disaster relief organization,.
The web links are
City/county of Los Angeles: https://corona-virus.la/ or call 211 from a land line.
Malibu Foundation/Malibu Urgent Care: www.themalibufoundation.org/cv19test or by texting TEST to 833-407-0117.
Malibu City Hall / CORE: https://covidclinic.org/core or text or call 310-853-1454, or email [email protected]./
