Antibody Testing Begins Among Grocery Store Workers

Wegmans Alberta Drive store, Amherst, NY
Photo credit WBEN photo/Susan Rose

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - The New York State Department of Health started antibody testing at grocery stores statewide Sunday.

A spokesperson for Wegmans tells WBEN that testing took place yesterday at 5 Wegmans stores, including two in the Buffalo area.One at the Amherst Street location in Buffalo, the other at the Alberta Drive store in the Town of Amherst.

The Health Department is rolling out antibody testing this week. They plan to test 3,000 of the state's nearly 20 million people.

The tests are designed to detect for the presence of antibodies produced by people infected with covid-19.  Anyone who tests positive may be potentially immune.

We received this statement from a Wegmans representative Monday morning.

We were notified late yesterday morning that the state would like to conduct antibody testing at approximately 20 grovery stores throughout the state of New York. Five of those stores selected were Wegmans stores.

  • James Street, Syracuse
  • Johnson City, Binghamton
  • Amherst Street, Buffalo
  • Alberta Drive, Amherst
  • East Avenue, Rochester

At each store, the state had approximately 5 nurses from the Department of Health set up a testing site and conduct 100-150 antibody tests. The nursing staff was responsible for engaging and consenting the individuals who participated. It is crucial that we all do our part in overcoming this virus and we are pleased to support the state in this important step.

A spokesperson for Tops Markets tells WBEN they had not been contacted for antibody testing as of Monday morning.