Testing is being offered to the general public by appointment

CAYMAN
ISLANDS (June 26, 2020) –
Antibody testing for COVID-19 began on Saturday, June 20 at Health
City Cayman Islands following the arrival of 5,000 test kits from
Roche Diagnostics – one of two antibody test systems approved for
use by Public Health England in May 2020.

Clinical Director
Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil was pleased to add antibody testing to the
Cayman Islands’ arsenal in fighting the spread of COVID-19.

“With the
introduction of antibody testing, in addition to the PCR testing and
all modalities of treatment, the Cayman Islands has the complete
package in detecting and fighting COVID-19,” he said. “We are
already at number three in the world for PCR testing per population.
Our results show we are one of the safest places on Earth right now,
so it is a very proud moment for me, and the public should take great
comfort, because we can say we are living in a country that is very
safe in terms of COVID-19.”

Antibody testing,
also known as immunoglobulin testing, detects antibodies in the blood
which are developed as part of the body’s immune system defense
against viruses and diseases.

Immunoglobulin
testing differs from PCR testing as while the PCR test via nasal swab
detects active COVID-19 infection, the antibody test measures
COVID-19 antibodies in the blood which indicate that the body has
already fought the virus.

There are two types
of immunoglobulin that could be present in the bloodstream following
exposure to COVID-19.

Immunoglobulin M
(IgM) is the first antibody to appear in the response to initial
exposure to a virus or bacteria and which would indicate recent or
current infection. This antibody disappears after a few weeks.
Immunoglobulin G (IgG) protects you against infection by
"remembering" which germs you've been exposed to before.
IgG appears in the bloodstream 14 days following infection and is
thought to build long term immunity to the same strain of virus.

The antibody test
itself is quick and -simple, requiring only 3cc of blood to be drawn
with results back in under an hour.

Antibody testing can
support priority screening of high-risk groups for COVID-19
infection, such as healthcare workers, delivery service providers, or
food supply workers who may have already developed a certain level of
immunity and could continue serving and/or return to work.

As healthcare
specialists worldwide continue to research the virus and understand
more about immunity to COVID-19, the tests could also help
communities to reopen and return to normality faster.

“When you get a
virus, your body will form antibodies to fight it. So usually if
there is subsequent infection or entry of the virus into the body,
these preformed antibodies will fight the virus and you should not
will not get an overt infection. By knowing you have this antibody,
you know you are most likely safe because you are immune to a
subsequent infection by the same strain of the virus,” Dr
Chattuparambil said.

Another key aspect
of widespread antibody testing for COVID-19 in any population is to
determine the prevalence of the disease in the community for
epidemiological study. With the COVID-19 virus being a relatively new
disease, research continues into all aspects of its spread,
symptomology, and treatment.

Since infection with
the virus often goes without symptoms, as has been seen locally with
the vast majority of cases being asymptomatic, many people may not
know they have already been infected with COVID-19.

Antibody testing can
provide more clarity to determine the level of COVID-19 which existed
in the local community and also the potential “immunity” of the
population to infection or reinfection.

Public Health has
been directing all COVID-19 testing in the Cayman Islands, and the
antibody testing at Health City will feed into the national tracking
of the rate of infection in the local population.

“All the data from
these antibody tests will be shared with Public Health because it is
a notifiable disease. We have to share this information with Public
Health by law – whether it is positive or negative. This testing is
very important as it will help further epidemiological studies in a
big way,” Dr. Chattuparambil said.

Since antibody
testing does not determine whether an individual has an active or
past infection, as it cannot differentiate between IgM and IgG
antibodies, everyone who tests positive for antibodies to COVID-19
must also take a PCR test.

“Our antibody
testing cannot differentiate between IgM or IgG, but it will tell you
that you have this antibody. If someone tests positive for this
antibody, we recommend as a next step the PCR test to determine when
they had the virus. If the PCR test is negative it means the
infection was past and they have IgG immunity,” Dr. Chattuparambil
said.

The first priority
for Health City with antibody testing has been its own front line
workers, who had already been given PCR tests, followed by front line
workers from other organizations.

Health City has also
partnered with local private practitioners and clinics to have blood
samples collected at their offices, and sent to the hospital lab for
processing.

Additionally, the
tertiary care hospital is offering antibody testing to the general
public, and is taking bookings for testing appointments.

Test results are
sent to the patient or referring physician by email within 24 hours.
All patients who test positive will be contacted by Public Health for
follow-up PCR testing to determine if their infection is past or
present.

To book an
appointment for antibody testing, interested parties can send an
email to Covid19antibodytest@healthcity.ky
including their name, date of birth and phone number. Alternatively,
they can also call or text 525-1481.

Testing appointments
will be booked between 10am and 12pm and from 1pm to 3pm Monday to
Friday and on Saturdays from 10am to 12pm.

______________________

About
Health City Cayman Islands

Health
City Cayman Islands, the vision of renowned heart surgeon and
humanitarian Dr. Devi Shetty, is supported by Narayana Health, one of
India’s largest private healthcare systems. Health City, only the
second hospital in the Caribbean to receive the Joint Commission
International's "hospital accreditation", provides
compassionate, high-quality, affordable healthcare services in a
world-class, comfortable, patient-centered environment. Offering
healthcare to local, regional and international patients, Health City
Cayman Islands delivers excellence in adult and pediatric cardiology,
cardiac surgery, cardiac electrophysiology, medical oncology,
orthopedics, sports medicine, pediatric endocrinology,
gastrointestinal, hepato-pancreato-biliary and bariatric surgery,
neurology, interventional neurology and neuro-diagnostics,
neurosurgery, minimally invasive spine surgery, gynecology, urology,
pediatric allergies, colorectal surgery, dental, sleep lab and
pulmonology services.

For
further information, visit www.healthcitycaymanislands.com

To watch video go to: https://youtu.be/XkqV85SXBcI