ARE YOUR

MEMBERS

AND STAFF

SAFE FROM COVID-19?

Control the spread of Coronavirus across your nursing home with accurate and reliable testing from IGeneX.

Home » COVID-19 Nursing Home Testing Program

NEW! IGeneX is now offering a COVID-19 + FLU + RSV Combo Test. Test for all three illnesses with one swab. Contact us below to get started.

OVERVIEW OF COVID-19 NURSING HOME PROGRAM

Nursing home residents are at high risk for infection, serious illness, and death from COVID-19. As these facilities look to control the spread of COVID-19, it’s clear that widespread and accurate testing of members and staff will play a critical role in ensuring a safe environment. The information from these tests can help determine if it’s safe for a member to stay at the home and/or have visitors.

IGeneX is pleased to offer four tests to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies:

1. C100 SARS-CoV-2 Real-time RT PCR – Determines if a resident is currently infected with SARS-CoV-2, the underlying virus that causes COVID-19

2. C400 SARS-CoV-2 ImmunoBlot IgG – Determines if a resident’s immune system has produced IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, which suggests that the resident is in recovery and may be protected against future infection.

3. COV1 SARS-CoV-2 ImmunoBlot Panel 1 IgM/IgG – Detects IgM and/or IgG antibodies against the infection. Antibody positivity usually means it is safe for the resident to remain in the home and/or entertain family.

4. COV2 SARS-CoV-2 Complete Panel 2 – Includes C100 and COV1

How to Get Your Members and Staff Tested

Contact IGeneX

Contact IGeneX at 1-800-832-3200 or with the form below to learn more about our testing and special pricing.

Order Test(s) from IGeneX

IGeneX will provide test kits, as well as guidance on how to collect specimens from residents and organize transportation of specimens to IGeneX.

Get Results

Results will be provided between 24-36 hours after receipt of samples. Results will be reported to County and State Health Departments where required.

COVID 19 Nursing Homes

RECOMMENDATION: ALL MEMBERS AND STAFF

IGeneX recommends nursing home facilities test both symptomatic and asymptomatic residents for COVID-19.

  • Symptomatic people are those showing symptoms such as fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. If positive, he or she can be quarantined and treated before the disease spreads.
  • Asymptomatic people are those not showing symptoms, but who may be carrying the disease and unknowingly can pass it along to others. Identifying these so-called “silent spreaders” could help public health workers be more effective at contact tracing by identifying others who have been exposed and may require quarantine.

RECOMMENDED COVID-19 TESTS FOR MEMBERS AND STAFF

THE BEST CHOICE: COV2 SARS-CoV-2 COMPLETE PANEL 2

Due to the asymptomatic nature of many COVID-19 positive patients, as well as the limited data available on the immune system’s response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, IGeneX recommends nursing home facilities test their members and staff with a panel, which means using both Real-time RT-PCR and antibody test methods.

In a recent study of 60 patients, IGeneX found that 25 were Real-time RT-PCR positive for SARS-Cov-2. Of the 25 positive patients, two had no symptoms. Of the 35 negative patients, two were very sick and tested positive for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. These patients would have been misdiagnosed if only one test method were used.

COVID 19 Nursing Home

WHY AN IMMUNOBLOT IS A SUPERIOR COVID-19 ANTIBODY TEST

In an ImmunoBlot, SARS-CoV-2 antigens are sprayed onto a nitrocellulose membrane. If specific antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 antigens are present, they will bind to the corresponding antigen bands. A dark purple precipitate will develop on the antigen-antibody complexes. Based on the studies to date, the ImmunoBlots have superior specificity and sensitivity compared to ELISA and Lateral Flow assays.

ImmunoBlot
ELISA / Lateral Flow Assays

Sensitivity

– ~93% sensitivity because multiple antigens are used
– Antigens are individually present on the blot
– Poor sensitivity especially when antibody levels are low (early disease for IgM; late disease for IgG)
– A single antigen is mostly used

Specificity

– Specificity is >98% for IgG and >99% for IgM
– Specific and pure recombinant antigens are used
– ELISA tests are screening tests and therefore not very specific, e.g. cross-reactivity to other viruses will give false positives for IgM and IgG

Stage of Disease

– Early (IgM)
– Active (IgM and IgG)
– Late (IgG)
– Not possible

WHY IGENEX FOR COVID-19 TESTING?

IGeneX Laboratory for testing for Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Illnesses

IGeneX is ready to help nursing homes with their COVID-19 testing needs. We are pleased to be one of the few CLIA certified labs that offers both PCR and antibody tests for COVID-19. The information from these tests will help your facility maintain full operations in a responsible manner.

At IGeneX, we are real people who understand the very personal, real-life
impact that COVID-19 is having, and we are proud to be able to contribute in this fight. It is our goal to help nursing homes continue to operate at full capacity, but do so in a way that will be safe for them, their residents, and families at home.

We encourage all nursing homes to consider testing their members and staff. For more information on how you can get started with testing, please contact us today.

Request Special Pricing

IGeneX is ready to help nursing homes with their COVID-19 testing needs. We pride ourselves on being the quality leader, but due to the pandemic and financial hardship occurred by care facilities and members alike, we are being very competitive on pricing, and in some cases might be able to bill a member’s insurance company. Contact us today to learn more.