The nationwide antibody testing against COVID-19 commenced today in Lae.
15 health workers from the Buimo Road Clinic were the first in Lae to have their blood samples taken.
The tests were done with rapid diagnostic test kits from Australia.
If the test returns positive, it means the individual was exposed to the COVID19 virus and has developed antibodies that may protect the body against the virus.
If negative, it means the individual was not exposed to COVID19, hence not developed antibodies against the virus
A total of 12,000 individuals including children will be part of the tests nationwide.
These are from the provinces that registered a case of COVID19, share a border with Indonesia, or have a high number of border crossers.
Morobe province has to provide 2000 samples with 700 from Lae alone.
