Baptist Testing for Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Current COVID-19 testing and results performed at Baptist Hospitals and Clinics
Baptist is committed to keeping you informed on the progress of COVID-19 testing in all the communities we serve, including the Memphis metro area, West Tennessee, North and Central Mississippi, and Northeast Arkansas. Below you will find our most recent COVID-19 testing numbers, updated for accuracy and transparency.
The nasal swab test, or real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, is used to detect coronavirus from a nasopharyngeal (nasal secretions) sample. A positive result indicates the current presence of the coronavirus and the likelihood that you can spread the virus to others.
nasal swab (PCR) test count: 783,842
| Test Status | Patient Count | |||
| Negative | 404,332 | |||
| Positive | 74,007 | |||
| Pending | 679 |
|||
| Indeterminate | 3,858 | |||
| *Unknown | 468 | |||
| Grand Total | 446,011 |
Antibody test count: 22,535 | Positive: 36.08%
| Result type | Patient Count |
% of Patients |
Test Count |
% Test Count |
| Positive | 5,733 |
33.86% | 7,725 |
34.28% |
| Negative | 11,273 | 66.58% |
13,683 |
60.72% |
| *Unknown | 415 |
2.45%
|
432 |
1.92% |
| *Pending | 666 |
3.93% | 695 | 3.08% |
The antibody test checks for the presence of a specific antibody in the bloodstream that fights infection from the coronavirus. Antibodies are small proteins that are an important part of your body’s immune system. A positive result indicates that, in the past (usually within the previous 14 days), you were infected with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and have recovered.
It is important to know that both tests do have their limitations and may yield false negative or false positive results. Even if you receive a negative nasal swab test result, it does not rule out the possibility that you have, or have had, COVID-19. Likewise, a positive antibody test result should not be a license to disregard COVID-19 safety precautions. No one knows how much immunity someone with COVID-19 antibodies has, and antibody tests can yield false positive results. That is why it is important to work closely with your health care provider, and adhere to CDC guidelines and social distancing, to avoid infection and the spread of the virus.