Use of monoclonal antibodies among those who test positive for COVID-19 has helped keep people out of the hospital, a UPMC study has found.

“This one-time treatment, if given within about a week of COVID-19 infection, significantly decreases the risk of hospitalization and of death,” Dr. Derek Angus, UPMC chief innovation officer, said during a briefing this week.

Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made versions of virus-blocking antibodies that help fight off infections. UPMC is offering treatment in the form of a clinical trial.

Results of the study were published by UPMC and the University of Pittsburg School of Medicine in medRxiv, a preprint journal for studies awaiting peer review and announced this week. It is now being studied whether the treatments work against the highly contagious Delta variant.

Angus said 5,700 patients have been treated with monoclonal antibodies through UPMC since the start of the pandemic. More than 2,300 of those treatments have come in the last month.

“Those are patients who are mostly kept out of our hospitals,” he said.

According to an Associated Press story in August, the federal government has been distributing monoclonal antibody drugs to several states since last winter but noted that the treatments were underused due to lack of awareness from physicians, low interest among the public and the logistics of setting up areas to give them to patients via IV infusion.

Also, the AP said, persistent delays in COVID testing meant many people didn’t get their results for seven days or longer, and clinics were focused on the upcoming vaccines or managing the winter surge of cases.

Since then, many cities have set up alternative locations to administer the drugs and offer vaccines. The treatments are free for most patients, largely because the federal government has been actively involved in securing and distributing them.

The treatments through UPMC are available for those who test positive for COVID-19, have had symptoms for 10 days or less and are over the age of 65. Other eligibility requirements include those who are pregnant or have certain health conditions.

Angus still encourages the public to get the vaccine, wear a face mask, stay apart when indoors and isolate when sick. He also recommended those who test positive for the virus to ask their doctors whether they are eligible for treatment of monoclonal antibodies.