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Q & A: Monoclonal Antibodies (mAb) at NOCHS
The State of Michigan expanded the use of monoclonal antibodies (mAb), a COVID-19 treatment, in hopes of substantially reducing climbing hospitalizations and deaths.
The treatment, delivered intravenously at NOCH’s mAb Infusion Center that is located within our hospital, has concentrated doses of lab-made antibodies to fight coronavirus infections and is geared toward people who are at high risk for severe symptoms or having to be hospitalized.
mAbs are currently in short supply in the state of Michigan. Criteria for mAbs may be different at every treatment facility. Talk to your primary care provider about the best place for you to go for mAb treatment.
Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the treatment and expanded use.
Possibly. Check with your primary care provider to see if you meet the criteria. NOCH’s mAb Infusion Center is currently treating those with the follow criteria:
- You have had a positive COVID-19 test or Antigen Test and symptom onset within 7 days.
- You are NOT presently a hospital admission candidate for COVID.
- You are at high risk for hospitalization because you have certain risk factors. These risk factors can include chronic kidney disease, diabetes, immunosuppressive disease or are currently receiving immunosuppressive treatment, are aged 65 or older, or aged 55 with cardiovascular disease OR Hypertension OR COPD/other chronic respiratory disease.
- You are 18 and older. mAbs are available at other facilities in West Michigan for those 12-17.
You should begin treatment within seven days of your symptoms first starting.
Yes. Work directly with your primary care doctor who will then coordinate with the NOCH mAb infusion team.
If you do not have a primary care doctor, but feel that you may qualify and need treatment, NOCHS’ Urgent Care (located next to Panera Bread on US 31/Beacon Blvd. in Grand Haven) or Emergency Department (1309 Sheldon Road in Grand Haven) can see you to determine if further care is needed.
Monocolonal antibody therapy is administered intravenously (through an IV) on an outpatient basis. The infusion is approximately 30 minutes followed by a 60-minute observation period.
It is best to plan for about two hours to complete the entire process from registration through the observation period.
NOCH’s mAb Infusion Center, located inside of North Ottawa Community Hospital, provides this service with a doctor’s order.
Once our mAb Infusion Center receives the order and determines qualification, the NOCHS' Central Scheduling department will contact you directly to schedule an appointment and give you additional instructions.
No visitors are allowed during your treatment. Someone from our medical team can provide assistance to the infusion center should you need it.
Yes, to protect our staff, patients and visitors in the hospital you must wear a mask the entire time you are inside the hospital receiving treatment.
The antibody treatments are not a cure for COVID-19; instead, they work to reduce the amount of virus in a person's body. If given early enough in the course of the disease, it could prevent patients from progressing to the point of hospitalization or more severe symptoms.
A small percentage of patients in the clinical trials experienced nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, and vomiting. The 60-minute observation period is required so that you are medically monitored after the infusion for anything serious.
The medication is provided at no cost through the government and your insurance should cover the infusion portion of the treatment. If you have questions about coverage, please contact your insurance provider.
Yes, but the CDC recommends waiting 90 days as a precautionary measure to avoid potential interference of the antibody therapy with vaccine-induced immune responses.