TEXAS -- You might have heard a great deal of talk about so-called antibody tests. What are they and, perhaps more importantly, what role might they play in getting things back to normal? Those questions take a little bit of explaining.

• Antibody tests working by identifying proteins produced in the body after fighting infection 
• Tests could identify COVID-19 immunity in some people
• Tests remain unregulated by FDA and an approved test has yet to be made widely available 

Unlike the COVID-19, which involves a nasal swab, antibody tests involve a finger-prick of blood on a test strip.

The test is designed to identify people who have had COVID-19 and may have developed some immunity to it. What the test doesn’t do is diagnose COVID-19.

The test works by looking for blood proteins called antibodies. Those antibodies are produced by the body after fighting an infection.

Although the test could play a pivotal role in determining when we can return to work or school, it is currently being used by researchers to determine how the virus has spread through the United States.

Sounds good, right? There are some issues at the moment. Medical professionals are concerned the tests could give people a false sense of security. While some people may have had COVID-19 and built up some immunity to it, it’s not known how powerful that immunity is or how long it lasts.

Further, according to the Associated Press, more than 70 companies have signed on to sell the tests, and the Food and Drug Administration waived review of the tests as part of its emergency response to COVID-19.

There are questions about the quality and accuracy of the tests. Health professionals warn that fraudulent companies are selling the tests, and they may appear to be legitimate.

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In fact, Laredo, Texas, authorities recently reported that antibody tests that were set for use in a drive-thru testing site were most likely frauds.

It’s recommended you not purchase one from the internet and instead wait for a test that’s approved for wide usage. The FDA has only approved one antibody test. It was produced by a company in North Carolina called Cellex, and a formal review of the test has yet to be conducted.

The Associated Press contributed to this report