Saxon Researchers Develop New Coronavirus Antibody Test

Ministerpräsident Michael Kretschmer bei der Präsentation des Corona-Antikörpertests. Neben ihm Ralf Hoffmann, Sebastian Gemkow und Jörg Gabert (v.l.n.r. Foto: Swen Reichhold/Universität Leipzig As part of a wide-ranging research project, Leipzig scientists have developed a sophisticated coronavirus antibody test that can even be used in the home. The results were presented to Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer and State Minister of Science Sebastian Gemkow this lunchtime at BioCity Leipzig. The new test will offer users a clear answer to the question of whether they have already been infected with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The antibody test offers particular potential for protecting high-risk groups in schools, day-care centres, hospitals and nursing homes, because it makes it possible to specifically deploy members of staff who have already tested positive for antibodies, thereby minimising the risk of infection. In addition, the test results will offer the scientific community valuable data to better estimate how many people in which regions have already had the virus.