President Trump said Friday that he hadn’t been tested for coronavirus antibodies but that he would likely take the test at some point in the near future.
“No, I haven’t, but we’re getting that, and you know we’re leading in that too,” Trump said during a phone interview on “Fox & Friends.” “I will do that.”
“Some people had it and they didn’t even know they had it,” the president continued. “Who knows.”
Trump also noted that he had been tested for the novel coronavirus “a number of times.” The president said Thursday that he would be tested daily for COVID-19 after a member of the U.S. military who serves as his valet tested positive for the virus.
Antibody tests can detect whether people have been previously infected with COVID-19 and produced antibodies in response to the virus, making them distinct from tests that determine whether an individual currently has the virus.
Some experts argue antibody tests could be used to help individuals return to work if they show that a person has antibodies and therefore has developed a level of immunity to the virus. Other experts, including former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, have questioned their accuracy. The FDA earlier this week revised its policy on antibody tests to increase oversight, requiring makers to seek emergency authorization.
The White House has instituted precautions to protect Trump and Vice President Pence from contracting the virus, testing anyone who comes in close proximity to them. Those entering the White House complex also receive temperature checks.