Is there a semi reliable antibody test and if so where can I find it?

[TestMyCovid]

Like lots of people, I wonder if I've already had covid due to severe flu like symptoms in late December and into Jan. Also like lots of people, I probably haven't actually had it.

But while the government fucks around with their opaque and meaningless guidance and the death toll and infection toll is still high, I'd like to do all I can in regard to this one bit of information I can control, so I want an antibody test.

There are lots available online. Which are more accurate? Does anyone know?

Not interested in a discussion about the merits of testing or not testing. I'd just like to get the information and go from there.

[TestMyCovid]

no one?

[LatinforTelly]

Go and have a look At the "antibody testing thread 2" thread where lots of people have been paying for tests. I believe they are mostly (all?) the Abbot test which seems to have high accuracy between 14 and 50 days after infection, but was designed to be used with venous blood (which a healthcare professional would take).

However these tests are being sold with fingerprick blood collection kits, and last week they were asked to be halted as their accuracy was called into question.

Roche have a test but this is not widely available yet. I think it is also antibody.

There is increasing evidence that some people don't fight off covid with antibodies but with t cells. There is not yet a test for this.

So I think the short answer is no at the moment!

[HampsteadHeathen]

If you live on London you can attend a private clinic to have blood taken and the Abbott test performed. This mat be possible elsewhere but make sure it is either the About test or the Roche test

[HampsteadHeathen]

*Abbot

[noraclavicle]

Private antibody fingerprick testing was paused on the 26th at government request, OP, while testing on the testing is carried out! More info here.
If you can get a private antibody test right now, it would need to be clinic-based.

[noraclavicle]

But if you do get a test, it may not show up as positive for antibodies, even if you did have Covid earlier in the year. You might have T-cell resistance as LatinforTelly mentioned, but you wouldn’t know. So the caveat is that you still don’t really have control over this one bit of information, even if you’ve paid through the nose for it.