COVID-19 ANTIBODY BLOOD TESTING

Dear Patients and Fellow New Yorkers,

We are in this together.  Regardless of socioeconomic status, creed, race - COVID-19 has affected so many New Yorkers.  

As a service to our community, effectively immediately, NYC Pain Specialists will begin COMPLIMENTARY Covid-19 Antibody Blood Testing - ON-SITE (serum blood draws) or VIRTUALLY (via telemedicine for a Rx referral to the lab).  

WE ARE NEW YORKERS, WE ARE AMERICA AND UNITED WE STAND.  

REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT:

team@nycpainpecialists.com

212.371.8460

DETAILS:

Thank you for your inquiry.  Our community service program is currently on Saturday's and select times during Weekdays.  Due to the exceedingly high demand for these services, your name will be added to a queue on a first come first serve basis - and you will be contacted with an appointment date and time.  

Please understand we are an Orthopedic, Pain Management and Plastic Surgery Center, we are redirecting some of our limited resources and provider hours to both continue taking care of our existing patient population - and doing our best to help out our fellow New Yorkers by facilitating these Antibody Tests.  

If you have active symptoms, please do not come in for your safety and ours, instead you will be referred to your own primary care provider or Urgent Care center for Nasal Swab Testing.  

We are only performing Serum Antibody testing to screen for prior exposure to COVID-19.  This is for Individuals who think they may have had COVID-19 and don't currenlty have any symptoms.  

- Select hours available for vulnerable patients (elderly, immunocompromised)

- Text confirmation when you are ready to be seen, our technician will meet you at the entrance

- Masks must be worn by any patient entering the facility, every employee will be wearing a mask and face shield

- Mobile Check-in - Please complete all forms on your smartphone/tablet/computer prior to your visit (IN ORDER TO BE CONFIRMED FOR AN APPOINTMENT, YOU WILL NEED TO COMPLETE BOTH  GLOBAL REGISTRATION PACKET and COVID-19 SCREENING PACKET)

- Increased medical-grade sanitation and disinfection between each patient

- Payment - No payment due from you, however, provide any insurance card(s), if you are uninsured there will still be no payment due from you  

You will have two options:  

1. Telemedicine Visit (from the comfort of your home) - where upon positive clinical screening, you will be given a prescription (Rx required ) referral to the closest EUA FDA laboratory site for a specimen collection.  

2. On-site Visit - you will be scheduled (must be on time) a visit, these visits will be staggered to avoid more than 1 patient in the office at a time, screened with a touchless infrared thermometer and have your specimen drawn, which will then be sent to the laboratory.  (Limited appointments, first-come, first-serve basis)

We are told tests will take between 1-3 days, but have also seen a backlog with the laboratories.  Results will be shared with you and your Primary Care Provider.  (Limited slots, as are we only seeing 1 patient at a time in person)

>>> The Serum Antibody IgG (Blood Test) will detect if you have had prior exposure to COVID-19 and have built an antibody for the virus. For most viral illnesses, a positive antibody means prior exposure to a virus and some degree of Immunity to future infection. As COVID-19 is a novel (new) infection, it is unclear if a positive antibody definitively offers immunity. Most experts agree it likely does, however the recommendation is to still practice universal precautions.  Note: antibody testing should not be used as the sole basis to diagnose or exclude infection.  

Test results will be available on the patient portal for each laboratory, i.e. https://patient.labcorp.com/

LabCorp’s COVID-19 test has not been FDA cleared or approved, has been authorized by FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), and has been authorized only for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens. The test is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostic tests for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner. LabCorp’s COVID-19 serology tests have not been FDA cleared or approved, but have either received an EUA from the FDA or were released for use under FDA guidance, “Policy for Diagnostic Tests for Coronavirus Disease-2019 during the Public Health Emergency - Immediately in Effect Guidance for Clinical Laboratories, Commercial Manufacturers, and Food and Drug Administration Staff” that was issued on February 29, 2020, and updated on March 16, 2020.  

For the next few weeks this will occur every Saturday and select hours during the weekdays. 

Note: There will be limited spots available for testing and it will be on a first come, first serve basis, by appointment only.

NO CHARGE:

There will be NO charge to patients. If you have insurance, they will pay for the test. Even if you do not, the test will be free.   

OUR PROTOCOL:

You will receive university quality care in a private practice setting.  During the testing, we will place strict protocols for distancing, sterilization, and safety achieved by limited testing. There will be a staggered basis. Every 20 minutes, only one patient will be seen at the office at a time. All the paperwork will be completed ahead of time electronically on a smart device or computer. 

PROCEDURE:

ON-SITE: The patient will arrive at the door and will be scanned with a touchless infrared medical grade thermometer. Once given approval, they will receive any personal protective equipment required to enter. All paperwork will have already been completed through our state of the art electronic medical records system prior to entering the facility. The patient would then be greeted by Roselle, our Telepresence Robot, and seen by a qualified provider. For the test, can be sent blood will be drawn and prepared for centrifuge and delivery to the laboratory. After each patient, the space will be sterilized with medical grade disinfectants and sterile protocol. It is to be stated that we have a Class C (the highest accreditation) Surgical Accreditation. 

VIRTUAL: Alternatively, you can complete a telemedicine visit, without leaving your home, and obtain a Prescription referral for lab testing at your local laboratory.  

In cooperation with LabCorp, we will utilize serum Covid-19 IgG (general population) and IgM, IgA (healthcare workers) Antibody test, which is authorized under Emergency Use Authorization under the FDA. We are happy to send your laboratory referrals to other EUA FDA labs, if so desired. (IgM/IgA availability varies on a day-to-day basis with LabCorp per FDA regaulations, please check with LabCorp for the most up-to-date abilities.)

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Our community service program is currently on Saturday's and select times during Weekdays based on our ability to meet demand while maintaining safety. 

  • Due to the exceedingly high demand for these services, your name will be added to a queue on a first come first serve basis.  

  • If you have active symptoms, you will be referred to your own primary care provider or Urgent Care center.  

  • We are only performing Serum Antibody testing to screen for prior exposure to COVID-19.  This is for Individual who think they may have had COVID-19 and don't have symptoms.  NOTE:  Antibody testing should not be used as the sole basis to diagnose or exclude infection.

  • You will receive several forms to be completed (only electronically and prior to any visit).  You, as the patient, will not be responsible for payment from our office.  If you have an insurance card, by law, you will have to provide this.  If you do not have insurance, please indicate the same and you will not be due any payment.  

  • You will have two options:  

    • Option #1: Telemedicine Visit from the comfort of your home - where upon positive clinical screening, you will be given a prescription (Rx required ) referral to the closest EUA FDA laboratory site for a specimen collection.  (Limited but more available slots than an on-site visit)

      • Asymptomatic patients will be tested only for IgG

    • Option #2: On-site Visit - you will be scheduled (must be on time, no exceptions) a visit, these visits will be staggered to avoid more than 1 patient in the office at a time, screened with a touchless infrared thermometer and have your blood drawn, which will be sent to the laboratory.  

      • Asymptomatic patients may be tests for Antibody IgG, IgA, IgM, these are qualitative and reported as positive, negative or equivocal.

  • We are told tests will take 1-3 days, but have also seen a backlog.  Results will be shared with you and your Primary Care Provider.  (Limited slots, as are only seeing 1 patient at a time)

  • The Serum Antibody IgG (Blood Test) will detect if you have had prior exposure to COVID-19 and have built an antibody for the virus. For most viral illnesses, a positive antibody means prior exposure to a virus and some degree of Immunity to future infection. As COVID-19 is a novel (new) infection, it is unclear if a positive antibody definitively offers immunity. Most experts agree it likely does, however the recommendation is to still practice universal precautions.  

  • Click for information from LabCorp

  • Note: antibody testing should not be used as the sole basis to diagnose or exclude infection. 

  • Test results will be available on the patient portal for each laboratory, i.e. https://patient.labcorp.com/

Disclaimer:

  • We will send your specimen to the laboratory of your choosing, we have had excellent experience with LabCorp.

  • LabCorp’s COVID-19 test has not been FDA cleared or approved, has been authorized by FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), and has been authorized only for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens. The test is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostic tests for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner. LabCorp’s COVID-19 serology tests have not been FDA cleared or approved, but have either received an EUA from the FDA or were released for use under FDA guidance, “Policy for Diagnostic Tests for Coronavirus Disease-2019 during the Public Health Emergency - Immediately in Effect Guidance for Clinical Laboratories, Commercial Manufacturers, and Food and Drug Administration Staff” that was issued on February 29, 2020, and updated on March 16, 2020.