body yeah a good antibody i would say is an antibody that targets a virus directly at critical sites for example and a corona virus has its spike protein that francisco not shape of the virus and despite protein is critical for the virus in order to end enter into human cells so a good antibody would be an antibody that binds directly to this critical side of the virus and there are some as it is available and we are using a lot of these as this in order to identify donors that has produced antibodies against this spike pro-tea right now plasma therapy of course isn't really new why did we wait until i think the beginning of april she tried out including 1000 patients. well that's a good christian. i think we didn't wait until april i think in china they started much earlier already to try this but as you as you are right this is always the same you know sequence of events 1st you have a new virus then you have really emergency treatments coming up and you have a pandemic in this case that makes it really very difficult and then. people start to figure out these these these treatment

all the tests shown in that report look for antibodies in blood samples earlier i spoke to paula can and i profess a molecular biology and immunology at the school of medicine at the university of southern california i asked to how exactly antibody tests work so antibody is a sort of molecules that are body makes when we've been infected with a virus and they're very specific for the virus they literally stick to the virus and stop it working so an antibody test is looking for the presence of those antibodies in our blood because that is a real indicator that we may have been infected already with us and that speaks to the reliability reliability question rather how reliable are antibody tests in actually showing that a person has been infected. shows so not only that pretty but i will say currently for all the tests that are being to ballot now sort of on the market to test coronavirus antibodies there are some questions it's a little bit of the wild west out there the over 200 kits that have been made and rushed to market and while i fully expect that some of them are going to be g

tests work so antibodies are sort of molecules that our party makes when we've been infected with a virus and they're very specific for the virus they literally stick to the virus and stop it working so an antibody test is looking for the presence of those antibodies in our blood because that is a real indicator that we may have been infected already with that virus here and that speaks to the reliability we're live billett in question rather how reliable are antibody tests in actually showing that a person has been infected. shows so not only that pretty but i will say currently for all the tests that are being to pilot you know sort of on the market to test coronavirus antibodies there are some questions it's a little bit of a wild west out there the over 200 kits that have been made and rushed to market and while i fully expect that some of them are going to be great i also think a significant number likely to not be accurate enough to really get most useful information right even if an antibody test comes back as positive can people be sure that they are then the mean. sure so t

you have the antibodies. you know that.they'll do, they take some of your antibodies and put them in a test tube with some of the virus and they basically see, do your antibodies neutralize the virus? it's the neutralizing activity of the antibodies that you're really looking for and, again, presumably, there should be some neutralizing activity, but it may be different person to person. there's been some evidence recently, for example, people who have had more significant illness may have antibodies with more neutralizing activity. and people who've had milder illness may have antibodies with less neutralizing activity. but, again, we have to prove this out. i will say this, this one adage i always like, it's like absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. what that means in this case is they haven't proven it yet, but that doesn't mean that the neutralizing activity isn't there. if you go back and you look at other coronaviruses like sars and mers, people who were tested even a couple years later did have antibodies,

the convalescent antibodies, the igg antibodies, and then test them over a period of time.patients have antibodies a week or two after their illness and the antibodies are still present several months later, those people are probably immune. but we'll need to see and we'll need to do this kind of testing to fully understand. >> and i guess that's interesting when you're saying multiple tests. sanjay, dr. fauci was asked this morning about the possibility of americans carrying immunity certificates, basically, you know, that if there's kind of like a suspicion and a lack of trust in the community, that you would be able to have those. here's how he said it. >> that's possible. i mean, it's one of those things that we talk about when we want to make sure that we know who the vulnerable people are and not. this is something that's being discussed. i think it might actually have some merit under certain circumstances. >> it is hard as an american in many ways, sanjay, to imagine such a thing, though, an immunity certificate. do you think, though, that from a medical perspective

the antibody tests? yes. [indiscernible] >> are you concerned about antibody testing -- [indiscernible] >> let's not speak over each other if we can avoid that. i will answer your question as soon as i finish with the gentle man. >> -- [indiscernible] >> it would be all across the board. we have some special populations we want to get done. nursing homes, their seen homes, nursing homes, nursing homes. prisons, congregate facilities. you then want testing to find out what is the rate of increase of the virus. you're talking about reopening, opening the valve and letting the water flow, watching the meter. this is how you watch the meter. what is happening to my infection rate? it is across-the-board testing. as jesse was bringing up, part of it is diagnostic, part of it is antibody testing. what is the purpose of each type? how many do you want of each? >> do you have concerns about antibody testing? the who said this week there is no evidence it works to show immunity. >> that is one of the problems with ant

not everybody will get the good antibodies. we know when we check their antibody response. you don't usually get them. you don't get super sick. you might feel crappy does it's not basaffecting your lungs. if you had mild symptoms you may be able to get it again in next season. that's why we can't feel home free because until we have a vaccine, not everybody will get that antibody response even if you had it. >> that makes a lot of sense. the harder it hits you, the harder your body fights back and those antibodies, that's what will protect you. >> that's what the vaccine is. vaccine is like getting around that by tricking the body into thinking it's getting super invasive infection. >> oscar is asking i'm planning to drive and move in with my girlfriend and her family in texas. what do i need to do in that process to be as safe as possible? >> i think one of the interesting thing s driving. i think driving is okay if you're not driving with a lot of of strangers. drooi with family member who is you have been living with for a while. you can sit fix feet apart. if you're dr

you mentioned antibodies. with a one lab rolled out blood based tests they have rolled them out. that is really important. this could be a key getting people back to work. that is still ahead. there are times when our need to connect really matters. to keep customers and employees in the know. to keep business moving. comcast business is prepared for times like these. powered by the nation's largest gig-speed network. to help give you the speed, reliability, and security you need. tools to manage your business from any device, anywhere. and a team of experts - here for you 24/7. we've always believed in the power of working together. that's why, when every connection counts... you can count on us. so w>>i'm searching for info on options trading, and look, it feels like i'm just wasting time. wasted time is wasted opportunity. >>exactly. that's why td ameritrade designed a first-of-its-kind, personalized education center. see, you just >>oh, this is easy. yeah, and that's >>oh, just what i need. courses on opti

this might have contained antibodies if i was previously exposed. just take some of my serum and put it in the same test tube as the virus and see what happens. >> if you have antibodies against that they will bond and we will be able to detect that. the medical director of the blood bank in atlanta where i practiced as a neurosurgeon. i was able to get the test because i am still working there as a doctor and health care workers are considered to be at high risk. here is what happens in your body when you are infected. the blue line, take a look at the green line. early on antibodies appear but disappear shortly after and then the red line. that is the igg antibody, the one that, peer appears after t infection clears and might provide immunity. for others like sars antibodies lasted 2-3 years and the middle east respiratory syndrome about three years but with the new coronavirus it is still too early to tell. >> what is the real value of having the test. >> if you are positive on the test it indicates you have been exposed. that can give you a bit

have antibodies. andrew cuomo said that results in new york city showed 25% of those tested had antibodies. i want to bring in the doctors with us. what percentage ofpopulation would you want to have antibodies in order to safely reopen? >> well anna, it depends on some degree on the virus. we are talking 70% to 90% of the population need to have antibodies to have what we consider herd immunity. the more infectious the virus, you need to have 97% for herd immunity. the people in new york who were tested were people going to the grocery stores at the time. and even then it was 20 percent. so we are nowhere near what we call herd immunity leity levels. >> the world health organization said that there's no evidence that those with the antibodies are immunized from having infection but said it has not been studied. here is the chief medical officers talking about it. >> there's talk that some may be infected after having the antibodies. so we need to be careful, we don't assume we will have a vaccine for

cells make the antibodies. cells that killer t can knock off virus-infected cells which is a great part of protecting us in these infections. the adaptive immune response can be long-lasting or lifelong. the measles vaccine is lifelong. others are a few years. some, like everything we try in -- trying to get an hiv vaccine for reasons we are beginning to understand are rather short-lived. even if we have the right adaptive vaccine, the antibodies do not last very long. we have to rely more on killer t cells. it is one of the complications for hiv but that is the adaptive immune response. there are many ways of approaching it. somexample, china recorded positive results with a vaccine. you may have heard about it. it worked in a few animal models and their beginning to get interesting results in humans. what is the vaccine? it is an adaptive immune response that takes weeks to make. away fromfew months having an effective response and nothing in the first few months but once you have it, you should have memory.

an antibody test. dr.auci told cnn on friday that it is coming soon. >> i'm certain that that will happen within a week or so, we'll have a rather large number of tests that are available. >> but what exactly are antibodies? they are proteins in the immune system that develop days after someone has been infected. and it is the antibodies that makes someone immune to becoming reinfected. it means two things. you were previously infected and you are now likely to be protected at least for a while. >> we think that it will be a tool to help people get back to work, it will be additional information are because as you know, if you have an antibody, that means that you were exposed and have recovered from it. that with the information about diagnosis should help. >> that is why public health agencies arounden t the world w these antibody tests because it could help some people get back to their daily lives. you remember the swab test, that tests for the virus itself, specifically its genetic material. the probl

neutralizing antibodies. those are the ones we know work most effectively at neutralizing the virus. you want more of those. it also depends on other parts of the immune system. we have t-cells that work with the cells that make the antibodies that help and we have memory cells as well that make antibodies down the road when you see the virus again. >> that was a lot of science to digest. that was dr. tara narula reporting. the bottom line is we don't know if you can be reinfected. but that's one concern laying on the minds of thousands of boeing workers who returned to work last week. kris van cleave has the story. >> reporter: signs welcome back some of the 27,000 boeing employees returning to work in washington state. they're finding a new normal of temperature checks, social distancing, enhanced cleaning procedures, staggered shifts to reduce crowding when people arrive and leave, required mask wearing and for workers who must be close together, they'll be issued p.p.e. >> i'm glad the boeing company is c

does anybody test don't deliver accurate enough results that antibodies against other forms of corona corona virus get to detect it and then get mistaken. this is going this is a big difficulty that we have so so far i think that the antibody tests and some costly ip of the election to the to the other oh no access and it's difficult to assess our dachas sado about this percentage actually is the hope that in the future and actually my that it's working on that you were at the party as a baby girl that it will be more precise and more specific and there are reports about potential really infections despite the people supposedly being immune what are we to make of that well i think that it brought some fight they don't imply that people got an infection despite or the you may be you knew they already that this detection was biased as possible off the people that we cover and that's yet another thing so not necessarily does a person that we caught us with it as had a negative test was in that virus infection necessarily have immunity probably infection or doesn't also mean that the chro

an antibody test that promises to tell you if you've been infected. in developed antibodies. but as kpix 5 maria medina says, it's buyer beware. maria? >> reporter: more than 100 companies are marketing covid- 19 test kit but only one lab in the bay area is offering them on demand for consumer sale. we found lots of people are signing up. the small lab tucked away in an east bay industrial park has been attracting a steady stream of clients lately. i kind labs of richmond advertises a coronavirus antibody test that a voting to its website will tell you not only if you have been exposed but also if you have protected antibodies. harper came all the way from sacramento. >> my family, my ex worst in healthcare and is on the front lines. >> to pay $200 to know if he is among the lucky ones. >> to see if possibly i have immunity to it. >> i will not be the source of the infection. >> only wants to find out if he has immunity so he can open up his practice again. >> according to this anthony, the email, the sensitivity is about 95%. >> the tests offered here are not authorized by t

when you found out you had the antibodies, what went through your mind? >> i'm a caregiver and i go to different people's homes and it's such a relief because now i can help other people. >> reporter: now dozens of labs all across the country are working on their own antibody tests. last week, the trump administration said they are working to make antibody testing free and widely available. >> starting within the next week or so, we'll be able to scale up the kind of antibody testing to give you a good feel for what the penetration of the infection is but you can start to think about some aspect of getting back to normal without having tested everybody in the country. that's for sure. >> reporter: the fda commissioner warning not every antibody test is accurate. >> no test is 100% perfect but we don't want wildly inaccurate tests. >> reporter: the diagnostic coronavirus tests, 1% of the population has been tested just a fraction of what experts say is needed to get a clear sense of how many people may be infected for now making complete contact tracing st

we must have reliable testing for the antibody.nd to add to your other guest's comments, we actually have a very urgent need. before we came on air, i was talking to a family member and unfortunately my patient is not doing well. to be able to know if she's antibody positive, so she can be at her father's bedside is crucial information so three things that are key and how i would see prioritizing. one, health care front lines meaning everybody including the service people and anybody who's involved in the service industry. families of patients that are in the hospital. schools and children, because, remember, schoolchildren are the ones that can transmit the antibodies, and of course the special populations where you're seeing the high death rates, whether it's communities of color, returning citizens or prisoners, the elderly or homeless, you name it. so i agree, we should prioritize it based on scientific evidence about who needs it the most, who's going to be impacted the most. but it has to be all three of these things being lo

onto the pathogens and eugene's to remove them later a test can be used to detect these antibodies in a person's bloodstream the antibodies are also used in vaccines to make people immune to future infections but immunity doesn't always last a lifetime so what do we know about sars to and how long will people be immune after an infection. these will be some of our topics on this edition of covert 19 special here on d.w. news i'm chris coburn berlin wall computer program now in the quest to fight the corona virus is small town in germany could provide valuable answers and the state of north rhine-westphalia has become an epicenter of the current health crisis now scientists are using the town as a testing ground to find out how covert 9 has spread and how to move forward. the streets are empty in heinsberg the town on germany's western border with holland has become the epicenter of the coronavirus crisis in the country it was here that the virus spread at a local carnival infecting dozens of citizens and putting the town in the focus of politicians and by rolla just like. times work.

this is quite this is a big difficulty that we have so so far i think on the available antibody tests and some costly i get the action to the to the other call no access and it is difficult to assess our dachas this phaedo at this percentage actually is the hope that in the future and actually mind that it's working on that you were at the party as a baby girl that it will be more precise and more specific and there are reports about potential re infections despite the people supposedly being immune what are we to make of that well i think that quite so far they don't imply that people got the infection decided to be between you and i only that this detection was biased as possible after people have to cover it and that's yet another thing so not necessarily does a person that we caught us with it as had a negative test was in that virus action necessarily have immunity probably infection or doesn't also mean that the chronically sick case so we need to look into that more and more desperate need to look at the antibody detection of those patients and then we need to also see it as a

are working overtim create just such an easy-to-use test, known as an assay, for covid-19 antibodies that could t mass-produced. >> at really is the ultimate dream of where we're going to go with this assay. >> reporter: although many coronarus antibody tests exist already, the current generation can only tell you if you've been sick before, not if you've achieved immunity. >> these are the labs where we do all the work. as you can see here, these are all multiple b.l.-2 containment facilities. >> reporter: galit alter, who is leadg the ragon institute's project, ss she's a month to half a year away from havi a test that could tell us if it's safe for people who've already been infected with the coronavirus too back out in public. that's a timeline that's shorter than what it'll take to develop a vaccine, but a longer wait than president donald trump's administration would like, to re-start the economy. t- people would like to have these po-care tests available to them at the pharmacy where basically they can te if they have antibody or not. and the concern is, you know, that having

an antibody test. dr.ci told cnn on friday it's coming soon. >> i'm certain that's going to happen. within a period of a week or so, we're going to have a rather large number of tests that are available. >> reporter: but what exactly are antibodies? they are proteins in the immune system that develop days after someone has been infected. and it's the antibodies that make someone immune to becoming reinfected. it means two things. you were previously infected, and you are no likely to be protected at least for a while. >> we think it will be a tool to get people back to work. if you have an antibody it means you were exposed and have recovered with it. that along with information about diagnosis should help. >> reporter: public health agencies around the world want these antibody tests. because it could help some people get back to their daily lives. you remember the swab test we're all familiar with. well, that tests for the virus itself. specifically, its genetic material. the problems are, first of all,

step will be the position of antibodies. they wenent to identifify those individuals in the coronavirus and we canan consider mean. right now there'ss no evidence that those with the antibodies are protected. my persosonal view is those with igg antibodies are e protectete. we can probably look in n the nr future -- not immediately now -- but let's say in the forthcoming -- to identifys, t those individuals with antibodies who can be considered immune from coronavirus. say,,: is it safe to although i know things are a was changing with the coronavirus, if someone had it or contracted it in the past, that it is quite unlikely they will get it again even though we are sort of worrying about the second wave, if you will? >> the second wave will involve those individuals who are not protected by the antibodies. we do not know there will be a second wave. remains one of thosee that you have in the medicacal school, they will say, always give us a surprise. but the individuals who develop antibodies, they should be protected. let

an antibody test. dr. fauci told cnn, on friday, it's coming soon. >> i'm certain that's going to happen. that, within a period of a week or so, we're going to have a rather large number of tests that are available. >> but what, exactly, are antibodies? they are proteins in the immune system that develop days after someone has been infected. and it's the antibodies that make someone immune to becoming reinfected. it means two things. you were previously infected, and you are now likely to be protected, at least for a while. >> we think it will be a tool to help us get people back to work. it will be additional information because, as you know, if you have an antibody, that means you were exposed and have recovered from it. >> that's why public health agencies around the world want these antibody tests. because it could help some people get back to their daily lives. you remember the swab test we're all familiar with. well, that tests for the virus itself. specifically, its genetic material. problems are, f

>> that you have antibodies.gives us an idea that the person had an infection. >> reporter: there are more than 150 antibody tests on the market. only eight have been vetted by the fda and have authorization. the tests our producers took is under fda review. most tests are given at a doctor's office or an urgent care clinic. on monday, quest announced they're offering a test directly to consumers without ever having to see a physician. each request is reviewed by a doctor who makes sure the patient doesn't have a current infection. >> this is going to be a crucial step in terms of moving forward. >> reporter: but as testing ramps up, experts agree there's no solid evidence that having antibodies makes you immune to the virus. university of rochester scientist just launched a study on covid-19 and immunity. >> there's a lot of questions about even in people that have antibodies, whether or not they're truly protected, whether they can get reinfected. >> reporter: just because you test positive for antibodies, it's

there are doubts about the effectiveness of antibody tests.ealth experts are now raising red flags. at t-mobile, we know that connection is more important than ever. so we're making big moves to help those who need it most. introducing t-mobile connect. a prepaid plan to help keep america connected. starting at just $15 a month, it gives flexibility for uncertain times. visit t-mobile.com/connect to learn more. you can also manage your account, and make payments online. stay connected with t-mobile connect. >>> as the coronavirus death toll continues to rise, many are pointing to antibody tests as a way to help identify who's been infected, and developed antibodies that could protect them from future infection. dr. anthony fauci urging caution about what these tests can actually tell us. >> so the assumption that with the tests that are out there, if you have an antibody positivity, you're good to go, unless that test has been validated and you can show a correlation between the antibody and protection, it is an assumption to say that this is

n0 antibody tests have been conducted — and the problem is there is no guarantee these antibody testsem now. and later this morning, we'll be putting some of your questions to medical experts. gp dramir khan and dr linda bauld, professor of public health at the university of edinburgh will try to answer your coronavirus questions. send them in by emailing yourquestions@bbc.co.uk or tweet to the hashtag bbc your questions. that's coming up at 9:30 this morning. the headlines on bbc news... the health secretary describes his "goal" of 100,000 daily coronavirus tests by the end of the mont as a huge undertaking built at breakneck speed — a new hospital which can treat 4,000 covid—19 patients opens today — at the excel centre in london. in the us, authorities in new york city and los angeles advise people to wear face masks when they're outdoors, to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. let's take a look at some of the key developments around the world. more than a million people around the world have been infected with the coronavirus — a doubling of the total in the past week. in all,

that's the igg antibody. that's the one that appears after the infection is cleared and might provide immunity. for just how long, how strong? that we don't know yet. we do know that for other coronaviruses like sars, antibodies lasted two to three years. mers had antibody presence of three years. but with this new coronavirus, it's still too early to tell. in order to answer the question, researchers will focus on this term, neutralizing activity. you see, it doesn't necessarily matter how many antibodies you have. it only matters how well they work at keeping the virus from entering the human cell. and that can vary from person to person. >> it's fascinating that not everybody that has high levels of antibodies on the tests we're doing now actually have very much neutralizing activity. those antibodies might still be healthy. it causes us to pause a little bit before we just categorically say if you have high antibodies, you're immune. >> what is the real value of having the test? >> i think if you're posit

the antibody test is more definitive. there are only a few reasons you would have antibodies in your blood. you got someone else's antibodies by an injection of their blood. you got a vaccine which teaches your body to make antibodies. or you were infected. the antibody test requires a sample of your blood and this strip, which has proteins from the virus on it. if your blood reacts to that strip, it means you have antibodies in your blood. >> and i think really being able to tell them, the peace of mind that would come from knowing you already were infected, you have the antibody, you're safe from reinfection, 99.9% of the time. and so this i think would be very reassuring to our front line health care workers. >> reporter: another benefit of antibody testing, surveillance. in places like miami-dade county, florida, santa clara county, california, and telluride, colorado, they've already started using antibody tests to get a better sense of how many people, many of whom will be surprised to learn have already been expose

the antibody test is more definitive.ly a few reasons you would have antibodies in your blood. you got someone else's antibodies by injection of their blood. you got a vaccine which teaches your body to make antibodies. or you were infected. the antibody test requires a sample of your blood and this strip which has proteins from the virus on it if your blood reacts to that strip it means you have antibodies in your blood. >> i think really being able to tell them, the peace of mind that would come from knowing you already were infected, you had a the antibody, you're safe from re-infection, 99.9% of the time and so this, i think would be very reassuring to our front line health care workers. >> reporter: surveillance. in places like miami-dade county florida, santa clara, california, they have already started using antibody tests to get a better sense of how many people, many of whom will be surprised to learn have already been exposed to the virus. >> every volunteer is getting tested twice and the purpose of that is to

the antibody tests, there is still quite antibody tests, there is still quite a lot of uncertainty aboutre hearing, and when it comes to these drive—through tests for nhs staff as we saw in the pictures earlier, it seemed pretty quiet this afternoon, not exactly hundreds of people going through there. there may be bureaucratic glitches associated with that. thank you. more than 550 people have died in the past 2a hours. most of them had underlying health conditions. the people who died were aged between 22 and 100. but among them, 44 people had no other health problems — including a 25—year—old. 0ur health correspondent sophie hutchinson has been talking to the family of one of the victims of this virus. rabbi neil kraft, one of a growing number of people in the uk who have lost their life to covid—19, described by those who loved him as warm with a wicked sense of humour. his was a traditionaljewish burial, given a helping hand using the latest technology. extraordinarily there are over 600 people joining latest technology. extraordinarily there are over 600 peoplejoining us together no

antibody testing.s and health officials have high hopes for these tests and what their success could mean for reopening the country, but also some concerns about too much faith being put in these tests. we'll be right back. don't bring that mess around here, evan! whoo! don't do it. don't you dare. i don't think so! [ sighs ] it's okay, big fella. we're gonna get through this together. [ baseball bat cracks ] nice rip, robbie. ♪ raaah! when you bundle home and auto insurance through progressive, you get more than just a big discount. i'm gonna need you to leave. you get relentless protection. [ baseball bat cracks ] you get relentless protection. dad, i'm scared. ♪ it's only human to care for those we love. and also help light their way. it's why last year chevron invested over $10 billion to bring affordable, reliable, ever cleaner energy to america. ♪ confident financial plans, calming financial plans, complete financial plans. they're all possible with a cfp® professional. find yours at letsmakeapla

the one antibodies shannon: antibody stays in california potentially showing a greater spread of coronavirus than originally thought but also possibly a lower mortality rate. a doctor who was part of one of those studies, fox's medical contributor doctor mark siegel, welcome back to both of you. a couple questions on the study but first i want to ask if the study is accurate what does it mean for our ability to shut down the virus? >> of the studies accurate it states we have much widespread covid-19 infection than reported to public health authorities. we estimate 320,000 cases, cases reported to the public were about 8000 so the number of infections is up 40 times the number of confirmed cases meaning the mortality rate is probably much lower than we thought. the bad news is just 4% of the population that has been infected, there's the remaining 95%, 96% still susceptible to infection. shannon: has no immunity and still vulnerable. la county had a finding similar to what you found, that actual case might be much higher than we have so far. number 3 news, the coronavirus city, the authors t

your body recognizes the virus and start attacking it and create antibodies.sn't necessarily do a lot with the initial infection. subsequent infection as soon as the virus comes back your virus says i know this virus and have antibodies that recognize it and going to attack it. you take those antibodies from people who had the infection and put them in people currently fighting it then it will help from long-term. you heard governor cuomo say 4000 patients have been discharged, 4000 potential plasma donors that could give us these antibodies to treat patients that are fighting for their lives. >> a lot of difficult decisions doctors and nurses and other personnel are having to make on the scene. as a physician, the new york times has a column about the ethical issues and triage decisions doctors are having to face. in addition to the moral anguish that may cause them some fear they run the risk of lawsuits or criminal charges if they go against the wishes of the patient or family. how do you work through these difficult decisions on the front lines of a health

the virus. >> each antibody has its own personality. yes, it's good at inhibiting virus, but is it good at being made? >> reporter: the most potent antibodies will be grown in giant steel tanks that look like beer fermenters called bioreactors. darpa wants to take the concept to the next level. >> we said rather than doing it into the bioreactor let's turn our body into the bioreactor. >> reporter: they hope to inject people with the genetic code. >> they're able to produce the antibodies themselves. >> reporter: unlike a vaccine, investigators say these antibodies could provide protection within hours, not weeks. >> we're not teaching the body how to fish. we're literally giving them the fish. >> reporter: with about a million americans infected, and more than 50,000 dead, darpa hopes their project could provide temporary protection in time for an anticipated second wave for high-risk groups. >> our health care workers, our front line first responders. and then even potentially the close personal contacts of those who are infected. >>

he was quite optimistic about this antibody testing. there is obviously a lot of value in the antibody testing. there has been a concern that in a rush to get the tests out there, the fda, you know, sort of changed their standards a bit to make it easier and, you know, frankly there was some bad tests that came out there, tests that could not be validated. what you heard dr. fauci say to you today, alisyn, i think within a week or so they would have several different tests that have been validated, making it much more widely available. that would be a good thing for the reasons you mentioned. one is that i think the average person would like to know, was i exposed, maybe? i didn't know it, or were those symptoms i had earlier, could that have been coronavirus? this test could help answer that question. and also as dr. fauci mentioned, surveillance really trying to get an idea where did the virus go, which parts of the country have already been affected by this. >> there is also news about testing on another front, the antibody testing.

so that is where we stand on the antibody testing right now. really in the initial stages. >> there is a new cnn analysis, drew, that found that corporate testing of coronavirus de -- decreased. >> there are so many theories on why it declined. it could be that social distancing is working and because we've only been testing the sickest of the sick with that level of sick people being reduced the testing is not being done. the big commercial labs tell us they have the capacity, they're just seeing their orders reduced. now that contradicts local public labs and state labs that are still having trouble getting swaps, reagent supplies and other things to run the tests. but overall, you could still get tests, it is just for a variety of reasons these tests have overall reduced in the last couple of days. >> it is' i have interesting trend that we've seen in our analysis. drew griffin, thank you for your report. >>> let's talk about this now with a cnn analyst dr. amy compton phillips. what is your reaction to seeing this decline in testing? do you

when we are exposed to a virus like covid-19, we create antibodies to fight it off. that builds immunity against the virus. and those antibodies stick around for a long time in the blood plasma of people who are able to recover. once a person has the antibodies, they may be able to donate their plasma to help others, as treatment for people who are still sick or as the basis perhaps for a vaccine. for more on the antibodies can help fight this, i want to bring in my next guest from baylor college of medicine, co-director of the texas children's hospital center for vaccine development. so let's begin with the basics, doctor, about antibodies and immunity, it seems there were some early, sudden reporting early on, one or two cases in hong kong of people getting infected twice. but it seems the bulk of evidence suggests that people get it once, they build up the antibodies and are then essentially immune. is that correct? >> that's right. there's precedent with that with other human respiratory virus infections. after you're infected with the sars ii virus, which is the

it comes after antibody tests flooded the market.y of them, though, and this is key, really just unreliable. this morning, america's top infectious disease expert, dr. anthony fauci says having antibodies may not even mean a person is safe. >> we have to be humble and modest and appreciate that we don't have all the answers with the antibody. when you develop an antibody after infection, it almost invariably means you're protected. we don't absolutely know that for sure yet. i think it is going to be the case. >> so let's dive into this. joining me is dr. angela rasmussen, a virologist. thank you for taking the time today. help folks at home understand, first of all, antibodies means your body has been exposed to the infection before. why don't weknow if with this particular virus that that gives you immunity from another infection? >> so, conventional wisdom does suggest that for most viral infections, when you get over that viral infection and recover, you develop antibodies. and most of the time, these antibodies are what we call

test which isa about the antibody test which is a step further to the diagnostic tests.ow what percentage of the new york population is immune to the virus because they have had the disease are ready. a very political press conference yesterday from donald trump but today much friendlier especially towards the governor of california. it was a fascinating and almost bizarre press c0 nfe re nce fascinating and almost bizarre press conference because a lot of the time was taken up by the present reading positive press coverage about himself, playing video clips, one by andew cuomo praising the federal government and the help he has given new york and praising the governor of california for the relationship that they have developed over the last few weeks and he has done this before and generally they are political rivals, they have argued about issues like dealing with wildfires in california but they do seem to be on the same page as far as getting equipment out to california that the governor in this state requested and if the president agreeing to that request so they do