Barry County announces positive
antibodies test result
April 6, 2020
Left to right, Barry County Health Department workers: Sharon Ray and Melissa Hilburn-Barrientos.
Sheila Harris
In a Joint Situational Update released Tuesday afternoon, Barry County Officials announced a seventh case of COVID-19, a first positive result of its kind in the county.
This case was detected by a a serological test which detects the presence of virus antibodies in the blood, indicating that a person previously had COVID-19, and has since recovered.
According to the Barry County Health Department, while the positive antibody test result is included in the total number of COVID-19 cases, it does not represent an active COVID-19 case.
According to Roger Brock, Administrator of the health department, there are currently two types of testing being done for COVID-19.
“The first and most familiar is the viral test,” Brock said. “This test uses swabs from your respiratory system, typically your nose, to determine if you have a current infection of COVID-19. The sample is analyzed for the presence of either COVID-19 viral RNA or proteins which are present in persons with an active infection. These patients are placed in isolation, and all close contacts are notified and placed in quarantine by order of the health department.”
“The second type of testing is typically referred to as an antibody test,” Brock continued. “In this test, a blood sample is taken from the patient and analyzed in a laboratory for the presence of specific proteins (antibodies) created by the body’s immune system. Antibody tests alone are not used to diagnose someone with an active COVID-19 infection, since it typically takes one to three weeks or longer after being infected for the immune system to make antibodies. This test is used to determine if someone previously had COVID-19. A patient with a positive antibody test, alone, does not need to be isolated, as they typically have recovered from the virus and are no longer contagious.”
“We have reviewed the details of the positive serological test and determined the person traveled internationally more than 30 days ago, which is the likely source of the previous COVID-19 infection,” Brock said.
According to Brock, the person and their close contacts have not had symptoms of COVID-19 and do not require isolation or quarantine.
Since the placement of the COVID-19 testing units in Barry County, Mercy/CoxHealth’s no-charge unit in Monett, saw 69 people tested as of Thursday, April 30. At that time, the results of 17 tests were pending; the remainder of those tested received negative results.
According to CoxHealth CEO, Steve Edwards, with more tests now available, testing criteria has been liberalized, resulting in more testing being performed, thus a lower percentage of positive results.
“For example, in Springfield,” Edwards noted, “at one point we had a four percent positive rate, but now it’s down to one percent.”
Edwards anticipates a possible spread of the virus when the state and counties open back up for business, but he said summer weather may have a counter-balancing effect.
“We really won’t know for about 10 to 21 days after counties reopen what the outcome will be,” he said. “It takes about that long for symptoms to manifest and spread after exposure to the virus.”
According to Edwards, Cox Monett Hospital now has COVID-19 testing capabilities within their facility, although they are prioritizing the use of those tests for patients who meet specific criteria.
Roger Brock, Administrator of the Barry County Health Department, reports the drive-through unit in Cassville has also been active since it’s opening Tuesday, April 28. The unit, located in the parking lot of the health department, schedules tests by appointment only for a $10 fee. If a person believes they may have symptoms of COVID-19, they may call the Barry County Health Department at 417-847-2114 and speak with a healthcare worker. If their symptoms warrant a test, an appointment will be scheduled. Appointments are currently being scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.
In a Joint Situational Update released Tuesday afternoon, Barry County Officials announced a seventh case of COVID-19, a first positive result of its kind in the county.
This case was detected by a a serological test which detects the presence of virus antibodies in the blood, indicating that a person previously had COVID-19, and has since recovered.
According to the Barry County Health Department, while the positive antibody test result is included in the total number of COVID-19 cases, it does not represent an active COVID-19 case.
According to Roger Brock, Administrator of the health department, there are currently two types of testing being done for COVID-19.
“The first and most familiar is the viral test,” Brock said. “This test uses swabs from your respiratory system, typically your nose, to determine if you have a current infection of COVID-19. The sample is analyzed for the presence of either COVID-19 viral RNA or proteins which are present in persons with an active infection. These patients are placed in isolation, and all close contacts are notified and placed in quarantine by order of the health department.”
“The second type of testing is typically referred to as an antibody test,” Brock continued. “In this test, a blood sample is taken from the patient and analyzed in a laboratory for the presence of specific proteins (antibodies) created by the body’s immune system. Antibody tests alone are not used to diagnose someone with an active COVID-19 infection, since it typically takes one to three weeks or longer after being infected for the immune system to make antibodies. This test is used to determine if someone previously had COVID-19. A patient with a positive antibody test, alone, does not need to be isolated, as they typically have recovered from the virus and are no longer contagious.”
“We have reviewed the details of the positive serological test and determined the person traveled internationally more than 30 days ago, which is the likely source of the previous COVID-19 infection,” Brock said.
According to Brock, the person and their close contacts have not had symptoms of COVID-19 and do not require isolation or quarantine.
Since the placement of the COVID-19 testing units in Barry County, Mercy/CoxHealth’s no-charge unit in Monett, saw 69 people tested as of Thursday, April 30. At that time, the results of 17 tests were pending; the remainder of those tested received negative results.
According to CoxHealth CEO, Steve Edwards, with more tests now available, testing criteria has been liberalized, resulting in more testing being performed, thus a lower percentage of positive results.
“For example, in Springfield,” Edwards noted, “at one point we had a four percent positive rate, but now it’s down to one percent.”
Edwards anticipates a possible spread of the virus when the state and counties open back up for business, but he said summer weather may have a counter-balancing effect.
“We really won’t know for about 10 to 21 days after counties reopen what the outcome will be,” he said. “It takes about that long for symptoms to manifest and spread after exposure to the virus.”
According to Edwards, Cox Monett Hospital now has COVID-19 testing capabilities within their facility, although they are prioritizing the use of those tests for patients who meet specific criteria.
Roger Brock, Administrator of the Barry County Health Department, reports the drive-through unit in Cassville has also been active since it’s opening Tuesday, April 28. The unit, located in the parking lot of the health department, schedules tests by appointment only for a $10 fee. If a person believes they may have symptoms of COVID-19, they may call the Barry County Health Department at 417-847-2114 and speak with a healthcare worker. If their symptoms warrant a test, an appointment will be scheduled. Appointments are currently being scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.
