Antibody tests - anyone had one?

[PuzzledObserver]

A few days ago I received an invitation to join a study looking for prevalence of antibodies in the population. I will have to provide a blood sample once a month for 6 months, but I will not be told my personal results.

The same day I received an email from a private testing company I have used before saying that they now have antibody tests available - it’s the Abbott one which has the CE mark. The temptation was too great, so I have ordered one. Today I hear that one from Roche has been approved for use in the U.K.

I would have told you I haven’t had it, but back in late January DH and I both had a nasty cough after we’d sat in a concert next to someone who was coughing continuously. We thought it was a cold, but not a typical one because we didn’t have runny nose or sneezing, just a bit bunged up after we’d had the cough for a while. When Covid started to get more publicity, we assumed it wasn’t that, because it was “too soon”. But now it appears likely that Covid was in the country much earlier. So maybe we have?

Anyway - has anyone had an antibody test? Where and how? What was your result? Do you trust it? What are you doing differently because of it?

[SquashedFlyBiscuit]

I want one of the Roche ones when they're available!

[FairlowWonder]

They’re available privately now. £99 but if you wAit I bet the price will come down a lot.

[PuzzledObserver]

I’ve paid £89 for the Abbott one.

[SquashedFlyBiscuit]

Fairlow the Roche ones are?

I thought the Abbot one wasnt as reliable (from threads on here) I'd just be anxious I got a false negative/positive.

[Aridane]

See this thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3900355-i-have-gone-nuts-and-paid-someone-to-com

[Aridane]

I am having one on Saturday morning - mild curiosity really

[cathyandclare]

I ordered an Abbott one through Treatwell because they were 'only' £49. I only had v mild symptoms just before lockdown, but DD had more classic symptoms. I'm also curious.

[cathyandclare]

Through Treated not Treatwell

[maria860]

@cathyandclare what site is this I can't find it

[NoMorePoliticsPlease]

I dont think any of them are reliable until this new Roche one out today

[cathyandclare]

www.treated.com/testing-centre/covid-19-antibody-test

I've not used them before, but they look legit and the Abbott test has the CE mark and looks OK in research.

[cathyandclare]

Update!!!

I researched yesterday morning and all OK. I now note new questions are being asked about the test:

edition.cnn.com/2020/05/13/health/abbott-covid-test-misses-cases-health/index.html

[Callybrid]

www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/resources/COVID-19/serology/Serology-based-tests-for-COVID-19.html

^^ this is a good resource - explains different types of antibody tests and lists those approved for use in the USA with sensitivity and specificity stats where available. Looks like Roche is leading the field. No stats for Abbott one here.

Would love if someone with better knowledge than me could say what the sensitivity/specificity stats mean exactly for the individual.

If I take a test with 93% sensitivity and 88% specificity for example does that mean for 100 people who have had the virus, 7 will get a false negative and for 100 people who haven’t had it 12% will get a false positive? Or is it not as simple as that?

[noraclavicle]

cathyandclare that article is about diagnosing active cases, not antibody presence, right?

[maria860]

Thankyou I want one done I'm going to wait to see what they say about the ROCHE one and when it will be rolled I'm thinking well over a month though till normal people get it

[SquishySquirmy]

I did.
It was a drive through one at a private clinic. I know it would not be 100% accurate, but I was curious and the clinic was very close to home, and seemed more reputable than many of the random mail order ones. It cost just over £100.
The date I took it was approx 6 weeks after we isolated with (mild) symptoms.

It was negative.

So either it was another virus we had, or we had it too mildly to develop antibodies, or the test was wrong. On the balance of probabilities, the first is probably the most likely: we have not had Coronavirus.

[cathyandclare]

@noraclavicle - totally right. That'll teach me to skim read

Well at least I haven't wasted my £49!

[noraclavicle]

cathyandclare - hopefully not!

[noraclavicle]

An interesting article on antibody tests (and accuracy rates) in general here
Roche’s test scores fractionally higher than Abbott on specificity. I’m not sure why the former wasn’t approved by PHE & Roche’s was however?

[noraclavicle]

Callybrid I think the article I linked to should hopefully answer your questions...

[Casino218]

I've sent a sample in with the Abbot one. Let's see what happens.

[Casino218]

The Roche test has to be performed by someone who can take blood. Probably the government want to control antibody testing so that's why they ordered this one.

[averythinline]

I can't understand why the fuss about antibody tests ... knowing you have Had it is all it tells you... there is not currently evidence that it means you won't get it again... unless something has come out very recently
And is unlikely to be as it hasn't been around for long....

and if you did get it again it doesn't mean it'll be better or worse than the last time... is it just curiosity?

[maria860]

I read they think you get at least a year to two immunity but it's from a professor and everyone's a professor these days

[Growingboys]

I'd love to know how soon we normal ppl can get our hands on a Roche test. I'd def pay for it.