Request ANTIBODY Testing for NHS Key Workers in Brent

From Friday 12th June 2020, we will be providing a pre-booked COVID-19 ANTIBODY testing service for ALL NHS key workers (GP practice, CCG and Care home, pharmacy, dentistry, local opthamology) staff across Brent at the Brent Coronavirus Patient Assessment Centre (CPAC).

The testing will take place in the GREEN ZONE (separate area) of CPAC. Covid or suspected covid patients are never allowed to enter the GREEN ZONE. You will be entering using the main entrance which is not used by covid or suspected covid patients.

The test involves drawing blood from the antecubital area of the arm vein.

You will be able to access the service by foot (preferable), cycle or car.

IMPORTANT: If you wish to be tested, you must complete the testing request form below, and then wait for a telephone call or SMS from the Brent CPAC team confirming your test booking. Please do not turn up to the service without a confirmed test booking.

Appointments Form ANTIBODY
 
 
 
 
 

Please note: in order to process your test request, we will need to register you as a temporary patient on the clinical system.

FAQ’s

What is an antibody test?
An antibody test can tell someone whether they have had the virus that causes Covid-19 in the past, by analysing a blood sample.
What do antibody test results mean?
A positive antibody test demonstrates that someone has developed antibodies to the virus. The presence of antibodies signals that the body has staged an immune response to the virus. Covid-19 is a new disease, and our understanding of the body’s immune response to it is limited. We do not know, for example, how long an antibody response lasts, nor whether having antibodies means you can’t transmit the virus to others. Our understanding of the virus will grow as new scientific evidence and studies emerge. An antibody test result can only tell an individual whether or not they have had the virus in the past. Antibody tests are also being used currently in surveillance studies, to understand what proportion of the population have already had the virus.
If you test positive for antibodies, can you ignore lockdown restrictions?
No. There is no evidence yet to suggest that those who have been proven to have had the virus are immune. This is the position of the World Health Organisation. You should continue to comply with social distancing measures and government guidelines. All infection prevention and control measures must continue to be in place irrespective of the presence of antibodies.
How will I be informed of the result?
Communication of the result is the responsibility of your employing organisation. The results will not go on the employment record and your GP should be able to access the result if required and according to local information sharing protocols.
How will my information be used?
The anonymised results across the testing programme will provide information on the prevalence of COVID-19 in different regions of the country and help better understand how the disease spreads.
Are there any risks to having the test?
There are some risks related to having a blood test, such as feeling dizzy and faint during and after the test but nothing specific to this antibody test. Risks can also include bruising at the venepuncture site. Serious complications such as an infection at the site where blood was taken and phlebitis (swelling of the vein) are possible but generally extremely unlikely.