Inside an Antibody Testing Laboratory
Lab technician Gina Delgado registers blood samples before they are processed to determine if they show antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19.
The University of Arizona is conducting antibody testing of health care workers throughout the state, and will expand to include broad UArizona community testing later this year. The test was developed in a lab on the Tucson campus, and can detect whether the body has launched an immune response to the virus that causes COVID-19. It relies on a single-tube blood draw, the most reliable form of antibody testing.
Jose Carranza, research technician for University of Arizona Genetics Core, prepares a plate of serum for antibody testing
Matthew Kaplan, manager for University of Arizona Functional Genomics Core, evaluates the Biomek robot prior to performing antibody testing.
Matthew Kaplan, manager for University of Arizona Functional Genomics Core, evaluates the Biomek robot prior to performing antibody testing.
Matthew Kaplan, manager for University of Arizona Functional Genomics Core, places an antibody assay plate on a ClarioStar plate reader.
Lab workers prepare washes and buffers for the robotic test.
Jose Carranza, research technician in University of Arizona Genetics Core, loads a plate of serum for antibody testing onto a Biomek robot for dilution.
Jose Carranza, research technician in University of Arizona Genetics Core, loads a plate of serum for antibody testing onto a Biomek robot for dilution.
The Biomek FX robot dilutes serum samples for the antibody test.
Barbara Fransway, manager of University of Arizona Genetics Core Research Services, transfers blood serum into testing plates.
Barbara Fransway, manager of University of Arizona Genetics Core Research Services, transfers blood serum into testing plates.
Barbara Fransway, manager of University of Arizona Genetics Core Research Services, transfers blood serum into testing plates.
Lab technician Gina Delgado registers blood samples before they are processed to determine if they show antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19.
Matthew Kaplan, manager of University of Arizona Functional Genomics Core, makes some adjustments during the evaluation of the Biomek robot prior to testing blood samples for antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19.
The Biomek FX robot is a key part of the antibody detection process.
The Biomek FX robot is a key part of the antibody detection process.