Close-up look at a rapid COVID-19 antibody tests

JUPITER, Fla. (WPEC) – There is now a test in Palm Beach County, Florida that will tell you if you've ever been exposed to COVID-19 and it only takes 15 minutes.

The IgG/IgM test, manufactured by Henry Schein, will give you one of three results; it will tell you if you've ever been exposed to coronavirus and now have the antibodies (IgG), if you are currently infected (IgM), or if you've never been exposed and don't have any antibodies.

A tool like this, doctors say, can be beneficial for medical professionals on the front lines battling the virus.

"The moment we chose to do medicine, that's the risk we take," said Dr. Isabel Bueno, a primary care physician at the Medical Group of South Florida in Jupiter. She is one of the first to get an antibody test done at the clinic, along with medical assistant Nicole Jablonski.

"It'd be nice to know if you were immune," said Jablonski. "The main reason I'm getting on my dad has lung cancer, so I don't want to be exposed so I can continue to take him to his visits and spend time with him."

The test is simple.

Blood is drawn from the fingertip and results come 15 minutes later. That time can seem like forever for anyone nervous for their results. In this case, both women saw a line form next to the "C" symbol. That means neither has the antibodies and is not immune to the disease.

"I am disappointed," said Bueno. "I was hoping to have the IgG."

Though the results aren't what they wanted, they are grateful the technology even exists.

"We want to protect those that have not been exposed," said Bueno. We want to protect those that are older."

According to Henry Schein, the test is not yet FDA approved but made available thanks to FDA emergency guidelines.

Joshua Smith, CEO of the Medical Group of South Florida, says the test is about 93 percent accurate. They plan to have about 3,000 tests made available to the public, however, their patients will get priority.