FDA greenlights first diagnostic test for COVID-19 antibodies that block the virus from entering cells

The FDA has authorized what it describes as the first COVID-19 diagnostic test that detects whether a person has the specific antibodies known to block the coronavirus from entering and infecting human cells.

These neutralizing antibodies are seen as a strong biomarker of potential immunity against the disease—compared to other antibodies created by the body, which have only been used as evidence of previous exposure to the virus.