Effective today, November 20, 2020, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Core Laboratory will begin offering testing for IgM antibodies to SARS-CoV-2.

This is being offered to meet international travel requirements for countries that require negative testing for both COVID-19 PCR and IgM antibodies shortly prior to boarding. Specific requirements for China are below:

http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/notices/t1828184.htm

Current knowledge regarding the clinical utility of SARS-CoV-2 IgM is limited. Therefore, this test should be restricted to travel protocols. For diagnosing current infection, Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) [LAB8963] is the recommended test. For clinical serological testing, COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Serology, Total Antibodies [LAB9019] is the recommended test.

• COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Serology, IgM (Travel Screening) [Epic # LAB9074]
• Also available as part of the PRE-TRAVEL COVID SCREENING (aka COVID TRAVEL) order panel
• DiaSorin SARS-CoV-2 IgM assay
• Specimen Type: Plasma separator tube. The lab must be drawn in any UIHC laboratory. Venipuncture is not available in the ILI drive-through.
• Test Result Availability: within 24 hours of specimen receipt in the laboratory

More information about serology testing for SARS-CoV-2 is available here:

https://medcom.uiowa.edu/theloop/covid-19-clinical-information?acc_id=95595&acc_open=acc-item-6#covid-19-testing

Questions should be directed to Anna Merrill, PhD (678-8400, anna-merrill@uiowa.edu) or Matthew Krasowski, MD, PhD (384-9380, matthew-krasowski@uiowa.edu).