Testing for COVID-19
Seeking Donated Plasma for COVID-19 Research: CHOC & American Red Cross
CHOC Children’s Hospital is actively seeking healthy adults who have fully recovered from COVID-19 to donate plasma to help CHOC patients fighting COVID-19. While researchers are still learning about the disease, it’s possible that those who have recovered from the virus have produced antibodies to protect them from the infection. If so, their plasma would contain these antibodies and may be helpful in the treatment of COVID-19 disease in others.
Eligibility requirements for donors:
- Donors can be male or female. However, female donors must be negative for human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies.
- Donors must be able to provide laboratory test results confirming COVID-19 diagnosis.
- Donors must have been symptom-free for at least 14 days prior to donation.
- Donors must show laboratory tests negative for COVID-19, either through:
a. one or more NP swab specimens OR
b. molecular diagnostic test from blood
If you know someone who meets these requirements and may be interested in helping, please encourage them to email covid-plasma@choc.org for more information.
American Red Cross: Serum Donations for COVID-19 Affected Patients
In coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Red Cross is seeking people who are fully recovered from the new coronavirus to sign up to donate plasma to help current COVID-19 patients.
More to come soon on accurate antibody testing in the near future. Please check back for updates.
Physical distancing remains the best way to flatten the curve and reduce the time COVID-19 will be affecting our community. Testing should be considered only when it will significantly change management.
WHO TO TEST: COVID-19 testing should be performed for hospitalized patients with significant respiratory illness and symptomatic health care workers (fever and respiratory symptoms). Testing of non-priority populations can be performed based on provider discretion and available resources (CDC Testing Criteria). Patients who have mild illness and do not belong to a high priority population do not need to be tested. (OCHCA)
OUTPATIENT PCR TESTING:
- Quest test code – 39444 (changed from previous)
- Labcorp – 139900 (unchanged)
- Turn around time is around 7 days.
Providers do not need to report COVID-19 positive patients tested at LabCorp or Quest unless they are health care workers, hospitalized, or live in a long term care facility.
Symptomatic patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 should remain in self isolation for 7 days after illness onset, 72 hours after last fever, and until feeling better.
Household members & caregivers exposed to confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients should be quarantined at home for 10 days after the last unprotected contact with that person.
NO RECOMMENDED TREATMENT
Currently there is no treatment for COVID-19. While trials are ongoing, no medications are recommended including hydroxychloroquine, which has potential toxicities (OCHCA).
OCHCA Provider 24-7 Hotline: 714-834-8180 OCHCA