New Blood Test Could Help Determine Severity Of COVID-19

People who have been diagnosed with COVID will tell you not knowing the outcome is the most frightening part.

A clinic in the Oklahoma City metro is aiming to answer those questions through a new blood test.

The Oklahoma Institute of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology has one of just seven labs in the country set up to determine the severity of a possible COVID infection based on a blood test.

“We are immunologists and are looking for specifics defects that affect how people fight off disease,” said Dr. Amy Darter.

Those defects are detected through a blood test when the sample is stained a color and exposed to lasers.

The technology allows doctor to pinpoint certain cells and determine the immune systems predicted response to an infection.

“It’s beneficial to those who, for whatever reason, aren’t vaccinated or don’t want to be vaccinated. It’s useful information to know what kind of risk factor category their immune profile puts them in,” Darter said.

Three to six vials of blood are needed for a accurate reading.

Darter said insurance covers the tests, and results are available in seven to 10 days.

“This information will give you a detailed profile of individual immune system, your immune cells, will work and can combat infections,” Darter said.