The CDC has started conducting antibody tests to help determine how many people have been infected with the coronavirus — including those who never developed symptoms, an agency spokesperson confirmed.

The test analyzes antibodies in a person’s blood to detect if they have been exposed to the coronavirus. identifying people who have recovered from infection and likely have some degree of protection from reinfection is a possible key to opening back up the country’s workforce.


The testing will focus on surveying three different groups, STAT and The New York Times first reported. The first phase has already begun to identify people who weren’t diagnosed with the infection in Covid-19 hot spots.