Employer COVID-19 Testing

September 25, 2020

CBC & Quest Diagnostics Partner to Provide COVID-19 Testing

In addition to implementing procedures to keep employees safe from COVID-19 in the workplace, employers can also offer an additional benefit to their employees by offering testing.

 

Through CBC’s continued partnership with Quest Diagnostics for employer COVID testing, there are two tests currently available:

 

1. Testing for active infections
2. Antibody testing 

The polymerise chain reaction (PCR) test is FDA approved and currently the most commonly used test to detect an active infection. This test can be performed at home with a nasal swab or at a Quest Facility.

 

Antibody Testing

Experience with other viruses suggests that individuals whose blood contains IgG antibodies associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection—provided they are recovered and not currently infected with the virus—may be able to resume work and other daily activities in society. It usually takes at least 10 days after symptom onset for IgG antibodies to reach detectable levels. The Quest Diagnostics antibody test looks for IgG in your blood.

 

An IgG positive result may suggest protective immunity after resolution of primary infection, but the relationship between IgG positivity and immunity to SARS-CoV-2 has not yet been firmly established. During the SARS (SARs- CoV) outbreak, it was shown that presence of IgG is an indicator for immunity for up to 2 years.

 

How does it work?

1. CBC sends eligibility file to Quest for all eligibility.  Please note that you have a choice to include dependents or those employees that might not be eligible for your health plan.
2. CBC sends communication to employees and HR with instruction how to access the testing.
3. Employee logs onto to Quest to select the testing that they would like to receive.  For PCR a test will be sent to the home.  For antibody testing an appointment will be set up at a Quest lab.
4. A physician contacts those employees with a positive test to discuss action they should take.

Next steps

Call CBC to set up a consultation to discuss the following items:

1. Eligibility
2. Type of testing needed
3. Agreements
4. Implementation timelines

 

The experts at CBC are ready to help!

 

Resource Links

CDC General Business FAQs

 

Blog Tags:

COVID Testing, employee testing, antibody testing, Quest Diagnostics