Baton Rouge General Tests Show 5.5% Positive for COVID Antibodies

Higher rates among those under 20 years old, hospital staff

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Baton Rouge General (BRG) has performed more than 3,600 antibody tests and, as of today, 5.5% of those tests came back positive. A positive test indicates that a person was likely infected with COVID-19 and that their body has produced antibodies, specific proteins which are made in response to infections. This is an increase from a 4.5% positive rate in May.

The results also showed:

• While those under 20 years old made up only 1.7% of test takers, 8% of positive tests came from patients under 20.
• Among BRG employees, there is an 8% positive rate.
• While African Americans made up only 9% of test takers, 16% of positive results came from African American patients.

Antibody testing is most useful for people who experienced symptoms of COVID-19. Antibodies develop between anywhere from 1-3 weeks after the onset of symptoms, so it’s best to wait at least 10 days after initial symptom onset or 10 days after a known exposure to COVID-19 to be tested for the most accurate result.

BRG began offering antibody tests in late April and offers them at most of its primary care and urgent care clinics. For more information on BRG’s antibody testing, click here.

About Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Baton Rouge General Medical Center is the area’s first community hospital with 588 licensed beds between two campuses. Baton Rouge General opened its doors in 1900 and has provided the Greater Baton Rouge community with high-quality healthcare for generations. An accredited teaching hospital since 1991, Baton Rouge General serves as an affiliate of Tulane University School of Medicine, and offers other medical education programs, including a School of Nursing, School of Radiologic Technology, Family Medicine Residency Program, Internal Medicine Residency Program, and Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. For more information, visit BRGeneral.org, find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BatonRougeGeneral and follow us on Twitter at @BRGeneral.

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