University of Texas COVID-19 Test Shows Promise

Researchers at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin have developed a COVID-19 antibody test that they claim is more accurate and efficient than the standard antibody tests currently available and can handle hundreds of samples in a single run.

 “This is potentially game-changing when it comes to serological testing for COVID-19 immunity,” said research team leader Jason Lavinder. “We can now use highly scalable, automated testing to examine antibody-based immunity to COVID-19 for hundreds of donors in a single run.”

The test can be used to accurately identify which patients are the best convalescent plasma donors and to gauge how well vaccines and other therapies produce immune responses, the UT Austin researchers said.