The Ohio Department of Health is planning to start random COVID-19 antibody testing across the state, according to the department.

ODH said that 1,200 households from across Ohio will be chosen at random and will receive a postcard followed by a letter notifying them of their selection.

Participation is voluntary and the postcard and letter will provide instructions on how recipients can choose not to participate in the testing, which will include options to respond by phone and by email. Participants can opt-out at any point in the process, ODH said.

Those who are willing to participate will be given an estimated time when a trained team of ODH workers will visit their home to conduct the test, according to ODH.

COVID-19 antibody tests detect the immune response to the virus, not the virus itself. The tests help health care professionals identify individuals who have had the virus in the past and may have developed an immune response to it, ODH said.

The testing will also give a better understanding to how the virus has spread across the state and provide a bigger picture on individuals who may have had the virus with or without showing symptoms.

ODH workers will conduct both nasal swab tests as well as antibody blood tests.

ODH said it hopes to begin the testing sometime next week.

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