WAUWATOSA — Wisconsin Lutheran High School offered free COVID-19 antigen and antibody testing to faculty and staff members on Wednesday. More than 80 employees participated in the free testing.
WLHS President Dr. Fisher said multiple faculty members wanted to get tested for the antibodies before the start of the optional in-person or virtual school year.
“Many of our faculty and staff feel they may have had COVID-19, they had questions about it and wanted to be informed in the choices that they are making and we felt this is a way we can offer them some assurance,” said Dr. Fisher.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antibody testing detects whether a person has had COVID-19 in the past and has antibodies against the virus, however; they do caution that not enough information is known about if a person is immune or protected from reinfection if antibodies are present.
"With the two tests, one giving them some idea that might be coming out of having even if they are asymptomatic and that would be a warning sign, we cannot return you to the classroom we need to put you in quarantine or if they have the long term antibodies, it's another confidence to them about to be able to know what they are doing and where they have been, "said Dr. Fisher.
The free testing was held inside on-site inside their cafeteria.
“It’s been difficult to get the testing and we thought a lot of people have been in that same situation, where they thought perhaps I’ve been exposed to it and I would like to know and it gives you a greater measure of confidence entering the school year knowing where you are at on a personal level and making decisions for you family that are based on fact rather than hearsay or suspicion,” said Fisher.
Fisher hopes the testing gives staff some peace of mind, by providing them as much information as they can about their health.
“We just think the more informed people can be in the decision they make the better they will make decisions,” said Dr. Fisher.
The optional in-person and virtual school year was supposed to start on Aug. 19, which has been pushed back tentatively until Aug. 27 (Aug. 26 for new students), as they are still waiting on approval for their back to school plan from the health department.