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N.W.T. testing discarded blood samples for COVID-19 antibodies

YELLOWKNIFE — The Northwest Territories government says it plans to begin testing blood samples for the presence of antibodies that develop in response to COVID-19.

YELLOWKNIFE — The Northwest Territories government says it plans to begin testing blood samples for the presence of antibodies that develop in response to COVID-19.

The territory says testing of discarded anonymous blood samples taken from April 1 onward will help it better understand how COVID-19 has affected residents. 

The study will be able to differentiate between antibodies that developed due to vaccination or infection. 

The territory stopped tracking COVID-19 infections among residents when it lifted all public health measures in April. 

While it continues to document severe outcomes from COVID-19, that information is not readily available to the public.

The territorial government says there have been 35 hospitalizations, four intensive care unit admissions and four deaths related to COVID-19 between April and August. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 28, 2022. 

The Canadian Press