LV Pharmacy, which is offering the tests, says it is the first pharmacy group in the British Isles to offer the service, which is being made available at seven locations across the Island. Currently, only eligible essential workers are being offered antibody tests by the government.
However, a second round of community antibody testing, where 1,000 households will be randomly selected, is due to be launched shortly.
During the first round, a total of 500 households were selected and the results indicated that there were likely to have been 3,300 cases of Covid-19 in Jersey.
Matt Johnson, head of LV Pharmacy, said the tests consisted of a finger-prick blood test undertaken in a pharmacy clinic room.
‘Within the Jersey government’s current testing programme, only nominated key workers and selected households are eligible to take up the antibody test, meaning a large proportion of the Island population and businesses do not have access to an antibody test should they want one,’ he said.
‘At a time when a number of Islanders are off work or working from home and keen to return to a sense of a “new normal”, the ability to offer Islanders and businesses greater access to testing is really important.
‘By increasing the number of people in the Island who can be tested for Covid-19 we will be able to understand the spread within the local community and gain a wider understanding of how many people may have a level of immunity against the novel coronavirus.’
The ‘rapid’ antibody tests are available at LV Pharmacy in Beresford Street, Queen’s Road Pharmacy in Queen’s Road and Reids Pharmacy outlets in New Street, Charing Cross, Longueville, the Lido Medical Centre and Bagatelle Road.
Anyone wishing to be tested is encouraged to contact their chosen pharmacy first to book an appointment.
