{"id":89168,"date":"2020-04-19T19:16:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-20T01:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/upper-pine-tests-entire-first-responder-crew-for-exposure-to-covid-19\/"},"modified":"2020-04-19T19:16:00","modified_gmt":"2020-04-20T01:16:00","slug":"upper-pine-tests-entire-first-responder-crew-for-exposure-to-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/upper-pine-tests-entire-first-responder-crew-for-exposure-to-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Upper Pine tests entire first-responder crew for exposure to COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Steven
Steven Bradford, an Upper Pine River Fire Protection District paramedic, takes a blood sample from Capt. Andy Miller on Saturday at the administration building in Bayfield. The district checked all first responders for exposure to the coronavirus using an antibody test.<\/span>Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Antibodies, the blood proteins that fight viruses, may be a positive sign for people who have contracted the novel coronavirus.<\/p>\n

No one has antibodies to fight the new coronavirus until they are exposed and their bodies develop a defense system. Research remains inconclusive about how long that defense lasts or if it protects someone from a second wave of the virus. Regardless, testing for the antibodies can indicate whether a person has had the virus in the past and could be less susceptible to it in the future.<\/p>\n

In an effort to be proactive in monitoring the health of first responders, Upper Pine River Fire Protection has conducted antibody testing for its entire crew of staff and volunteers. While none of the crew members has been exposed to the virus, the testing established both a valuable baseline and a note of caution.<\/p>\n

\"Capt.
Capt. Andy Miller with Upper Pine has his finger pricked as part of the antibody test Saturday at the administration building in Bayfield. The test shows exposure to the coronavirus over the previous 30 to 60 days.<\/span>Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cOne of the things we\u2019re trying to do is as much testing as possible to make sure that first responders are not infectious when they show up at someone\u2019s house for a 911 call,\u201d said Bruce Evans, Upper Pine fire chief.<\/p>\n

Some crew members thought they already had the disease, but the district could not know for sure because of the testing shortage in January and February. They decided to do antibody testing to get more clarity.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was initially so that we can get \u2026 a baseline for everybody,\u201d Evans said.<\/p>\n

The newly developed test identifies who might have antibody protection against the virus and who is more susceptible. It\u2019s a snapshot in time: The results indicate exposure over the previous 30 to 60 days. The test also provides an extra layer of security for crew members returning to work after exposure to the virus.<\/p>\n

The district saw the test as a way to possibly help with treatment for COVID-19 patients. One preliminary form of treatment takes blood plasma from someone who has antibodies against the disease and gives it to critically ill patients, Evans said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s been shown to have some efficacy in turning critical patients around,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"The
The coronavirus antibody test, or SARS-CoV-2 IgG (colloidal gold) test kit, used on Capt. Andy Miller with Upper Pine River Fire Protection District. The district tested all crew members and will extend testing to employee families.<\/span>Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Steven
Steven Bradford, an Upper Pine River Fire Protection District paramedic, takes a blood sample from Capt. Andy Miller as the department checks crews for coronavirus antibodies Saturday at the administration building in Bayfield.<\/span>Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Evans said he thought Upper Pine was the first district in the region to do antibody testing. Upper Pine bought 40 tests for crew members and an additional 100 tests for employees\u2019 families. The district also purchased 20 COVID-19 symptom tests. In total, the tests cost about $600.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you\u2019re going to see more firefighters, paramedics, EMTs and law enforcement using these kits,\u201d he said, particularly because the International Association of Fire Chiefs partnered with another company to supply first responders with antibody tests.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this point, any test they can come up with to identify the COVID-19 virus \u2026 is going to really help with mitigating the spread,\u201d said Jon Haner, a firefighter\/paramedic with the district. \u201cIf we don\u2019t know where it\u2019s at, it\u2019s hard to deal with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The test comes in a little foil packet and includes a small vial with a reagent in it. Essentially, people draw blood with a finger stick and put the blood in the vial. The blood and reagent mixture goes into a cartridge that looks like a pregnancy test.<\/p>\n

Ten minutes later, crew members saw one blue line if they were negative or two blue lines if they were positive for antibodies.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would rather have had some antibodies built up,\u201d said Steven Bradford, a firefighter\/paramedic with the district. His family had some mild symptoms earlier in the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was personally hoping it would\u2019ve been (the coronavirus),\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Haner also had some flu-like symptoms in early January.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf that had come up as a positive test for protection against the new virus, that would\u2019ve been good news,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

smullane@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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