NASVHILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey announced the state's plan for COVID-19 antibody testing.

Antibody testing can help reveal who has developed an immunity to COVID-19 and Piercey said during the governor's coronavirus briefing that the testing will begin in two phases.

First, the state says it plans to test 10,000 healthcare workers across the state. They also plan to send an alert to all clinical providers in the state this week to make sure they know the limits of antibody testing, and specific guidance on how to use the tests.

It's important to understand most antibody tests in clinical offices right now aren't approved and even those that have been approved haven't been widely sent out yet.

The state is warning that those unapproved tests can often give false positives, telling people they have antibodies that can fight COVID-19, when they really don't. That's because those unapproved tests may pick up on other, less serious types of coronavirus that are not COVID-19.

"There are lots of viruses in the coronavirus family. Many of these unapproved coronavirus tests will pickup on those and not COVID-19 and give you a false sense of security about your level of protection," explained Dr. Piercey.

Governor Lee also said later this week his office will be releasing guidance on how Gyms and Churches can open back up.