I think we are itching to have our own IgG checked! That said, as a group of occupational health professionals working within medical centers, it’s especially important for all to know that professional and scientific organizations including the American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, American Clinical Laboratory Association, the CDC as well as the World Health Organization have all issued concordant recommendations regarding the use of serology. Serologic tests may indicate prior infection and may be useful for epidemiologic research. However at this time serology cannot be used to determine protective immunity, and should not be used to make workplace decisions such as work assignment or PPE. Testing employees for antibodies is not recommended as a routine practice, and the EEOC has stated they should not be mandated by employers as they cannot assess direct threat.

 

Please note the ACOEM Webinar today on COVID-19 Serology and RTW: http://acoem.org/COVID-19-Resource-Center/COVID-19-Webinars

 

Also the ACOEM COVID-19 Forum has addressed this in part in the response about HCW RTW: http://acoem.org/COVID-19-Resource-Center/COVID-19-Q-A-Forum/For-healthcare-workers,-should-RTW-recommendations-after-COVID-19-diagnosis-include-other-objective to say:

Serologic tests for SARS-CoV-2 IgG are designed to identify individuals with a prior infection.  This may be useful in epidemiologic research and seroprevalence studies.  However further studies are needed in order to determine whether a positive IgG test for SARS-CoV-2 is indicative of the presence of neutralizing antibodies. At this point we cannot make any assumptions about the protectiveness and duration of any immunity that may be present or determine whether a particular quantitative antibody level is desirable.  
     
There is another Q/A to be released today focusing completely on the issue of serology testing. (Not to “scoop” it but I have inside knowledge that it will not endorse the practice!)

 

 

Melanie

 

Melanie Swift, MD, MPH
Medical Director, Mayo Clinic Physician Health Center

Associate Medical Director, Occupational Health Service

Senior Associate Consultant

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Division of Preventive, Occupational, and Aerospace Medicine

Phone 507.284.2560

_______________________________
Mayo Clinic
200 First Street SW
Rochester, MN 55905
www.mayoclinic.org

 

From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces@mylist.net] On Behalf Of Leibu, Rachel
Sent: Friday, May 8, 2020 9:51 AM
To: MCOH-EH
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [MCOH-EH] Antibody Testing Logistics

 

Hi Everyone,

 

I hope you are all weathering the COVID Pandemic as best as you can.  I was curious to know what others are doing in regards to COVID-19 Antibody testing at your facilities.

 

Are you offering antibody “clinics”, roving antibody testing, lab testing, a hybrid of the three?

 

Rachel Leibu, MD, MBA, MS, FACOEM

Medical Director Occupational Medicine Services

Atlantic Health System

973-829-4277

 

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* Morristown Medical Center, the flagship hospital of Atlantic Health System, has been building healthier communities since it was founded 126 years ago. Morristown Medical Center was named one of ‘America’s Best 50 Hospitals’ for the third consecutive year by Healthgrades, a consumer-rankings group. The distinction places Morristown in the top one percent of hospitals in the nation for clinical performance. It was one of only 29 hospitals in the nation to be recognized as a Top Teaching Hospital by Leapfrog, and highest-ranking hospital in New Jersey, in both Cardiology & Heart Surgery and Orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report. In 2017, Morristown was the only hospital in New Jersey and one of just 12 hospitals in the country to receive three of the most sought-after industry honors: America’s 50 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades, an “A” safety grade by Leapfrog and five stars from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Designated a Level I Regional Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons and a Level II by the state, Morristown is a Magnet Hospital for Excellence in Nursing Service, the highest level of recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for facilities that provide acute care services. The Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute offers patients a complete spectrum of heart and vascular care, home to the largest cardiac surgery program in the state. The Carol G. Simon Cancer Center is the only program in the state to receive the 2016 Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. *************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************


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