The first 1,000 staff at Derby and Burton's hospital are to get Covid-19 antibody tests this week.

Overall, the hospital trust has 13,000 staff and is also looking to support other organisations, so testing all employees is expected to "take time".

At 1,000 people a week the trust could still be carrying out the first round of antibody testing in September.

The test identifies whether the patient in question has had Covid-19 by identifying an antibody of the virus.

It is no way a vaccine or a cure for the virus.

The tests detect antibodies which form in the blood when the body fights infections such as Covid-19.

Antibodies help to prevent someone being infected by the virus again, but scientists still do not know how long this protection lasts.

Government guidance on the tests say they are used to indicate whether an individual needs to continue to self-isolate, can return to work or needs to be re-tested.

Dr Magnus Harrison, deputy chief executive at the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB), wrote in a blog post on the organisation's website: "We've started our own antibody testing for staff and the response has been incredible.

"We wrote out to the first 1,000 staff we wanted to participate in the coming week and the first 400 slots for testing were filled within an hour or two.

"With 13,000 staff ourselves and a number of partners to support, clearly it's going to take time to get everyone through, but I'm delighted that colleagues have shown an instant willingness to be involved."

As of May 31, there were 2,291 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Derby and Derbyshire, while there were 3,021 in Stoke and Staffordshire.

A total of 474 people have now died at UHDB after contracting Covid-19 – including three members of hospital staff.

These are: Amged El-Hawrani, ear, nose and throat consultant, aged 55; Manjeet Singh Riyat, A&E consultant, aged 52; and Eileen Landers, cleaner, aged 67.

As of May 12, more than 1,000 Derby and Burton hospital staff have been off work due to Covid-19 reasons.

Nearly 650 staff had tested positive for the virus – as of May 12.

Meanwhile, another 300 hospital staff have been off work to shield vulnerable members of their household – staying at home to ensure they do not contract the virus and pass it on to their vulnerable family member, loved one or friend.

The hospital does not know how many hospital staff overall have had the virus with testing not in place for a large portion of the pandemic. Many staff isolated at home with suspected symptoms.