STAFF working at Furness General Hospital can now receive an antibody testing for COVID-19.

Aaron Cummins, chief executive of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Foundation Trust (UHMBT), tweeted a photograph of himself after having the test.

Mr Cummins was pictured holding a sign which said: ‘I have had my antibody test today.’

The testing, which is currently only available to staff within the trust, will provide a better understanding of the spread of coronavirus.

In an internal announcement for employees, the trust revealed antibody testing had officially begun across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

An antibody test is a screening for COVID-19 antibodies in your blood.

The test looks to see whether your immune system has responded to the infection by analysing a blood sample.

A positive result, however, does not automatically mean you are immune to the virus or cannot pass it onto others.

The announcement said: “Antibody testing for staff has begun across Lancashire and South Cumbria and UHMBT will be playing its part in this important work and will be fully supportive of the programme.

“In preparation for the administration of the delivery of the tests to staff, we will be out and about across sites seeking consent from people on duty to take part in the testing programme. A positive antibody test will tell you whether you’ve previously had the virus that causes COVID-19 and that your body has produced an immune response.

“There is no strong evidence yet to suggest that those who have been proven to have had the virus and to have produced antibodies are immune. If you receive a positive antibody result it does not mean that you’re immune, or that you cannot pass on the virus to others.

“It also does not mean that you can ignore social distancing measures. Therefore, the value of antibody tests is currently limited to answering the question of whether someone has had the virus or not, and providing data and a greater understanding on the spread of the virus. This is open to all colleagues across the trust.”

Numerous high-street retailers are currently offering home antibody tests including Superdrug and Lloyds Pharmacy.