Antibody test - surprised at negative result

[AnnoyingPigeon]

I had a private antibody test last week. I got the result this morning - a negative (it was the Siemens’ SARS-COV-2 Total Antibody test).

I'm really shocked because DH and DS both had exact covid symptoms several weeks ago, DH's were mild but he has even had the weird 'covid toe'. DS spent about 5 nights coughing directly into my face, and had had the temperature for days beforehand (this was before testing was done for people who had manageable symptoms, we were just told to self-isolate). I did have mild cold symptoms but they did include a slightly raised temperature and a cough.

Anyone else had the same? I feel a bit gutted.

[Racoonworld]

Did your DH and DS also get a negative result?

[ComtesseDeSpair]

I don’t think it’s surprising: with the antigen test (the one you take when you have symptoms to see if you’re positive for Covid) even when they were only testing people in hospital the majority of tests were returning negative - so even many of those with classic symptoms severe enough to be hospitalised we’re more likely to be there due something other than Covid. Can see why it feels deflating though.

I just had my private antibody test return positive. This is interesting because it means I either had Covid when I thought I did - back in late Jan / early Feb and supposedly far too early in the timeline for that to have been the case - or I’ve had it completely asymptomatically sometime since.

[Windyone]

@ComtesseDeSpair where did you get your test done? Just interested to find out how to get one.

[ComtesseDeSpair]

Mine was an official venous one through a work channel - but there are a couple of home testing private labs out there offering them and all the medics I know are skeptical that they’re as ineffective on finger prick blood as government is insisting.

[Windyone]

Thanks, yes I think it’s probably not worth doing unless it’s official.

[PineappleUpsideDownCake]

There were problems with the fingerprick tests weren't there?

I really want an antibody test .

[AnnoyingPigeon]

@Racoonworld Unfortunately DH and DS weren't ever tested, we/they had symptoms back in early April and back then were just told to self-isolate. They each had dry coughs and high temperatures, DH's was mild but DS had a dreadful cough and would cough constantly for hours at a time - it was terrible for him. Then about 5 weeks later, DH had the red swollen toe - he's never had anything like that before. The cough I had kept coming and going, which I've read can happen with covid, plus I'd been holed with those two so I was certain I'd been exposed!

@ComtesseDeSpair that is interesting - hopefully some immunity for you in the future.

[Theforest]

I don't hold much in the level of accuracy at the moment

[AnnoyingPigeon]

@Racoonworld oh sorry I think I misread your question. Only I had the antibody test, as my 'covid' symptoms were more vague than theirs, and I'm more impatient than DH!

[LadyofTheManners]

By the sounds of things, even people who had positive Covid tests are coming back negative for antibodies
It'll be another huge sum of money thrown at a company which will waste even more money the country hasn't got.
I know one person who was in the test category when it was in the testing stage to see if the Roche one worked and his came up positive, no positive Covid test but symptoms in late December so was in the control group as someone suspected of having it early (think they're still trying to work out who was patient zero here and when).

[Gunpowder]

There are some private firms offering the venous ones (inside M25 anyway) but you have to pay extra for a phlebotomist to come to your house so it isn’t cheap.

[Gunpowder]

Sorry that was to windyone

[AnnoyingPigeon]

The one I had was a blood test with blood taken from my arm in a clinic.

I've just seen this...

www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-antibody-test-covid-19-a9567171.html

[EggysMom]

I just had my private antibody test return positive. This is interesting because it means I either had Covid when I thought I did - back in late Jan / early Feb and supposedly far too early in the timeline for that to have been the case

I doubt you're alone in this. We haven't been tested (cannot afford private test, work are only testing if you show symptoms) but we'd swear that we had it run thru our family in the last week of January into the first two weeks of February.

[Medstudent12]

You still have to track and trace even if positive! We don't really know what is means yet so not sure why everyone is so gutted.

I'm a doctor, worked with countless covid patients, been in crowded ward offices etc. I am negative. Who knows! Maybe some people are just more prone to it.

[Medstudent12]

Also I know everyone is absolutely convinced they've had it. But upper and lower respiratory tract infections are rife in autumn and winter. People get sick every year, majority will not be covid.

[Browzingss]

I have many close ones that are drs & nurses and the genera consensus is that the tests have a low accuracy %

[Storyofcats]

I know of a number of people through work (nhs) with positive swab results for covid but now negative antibodies so I really dont think it's very reliable. Am currently waiting anxiously for my antibody results after being very unwell with presumed covid symptoms 14 weeks ago..still breathless and have chest pain and on steroids etc but am prepared now to get a negative result.

[maddy68]

The superdrug one is teh own recommended by the government it's ,over 99% accurate

[Nosuchthingasafreelunch]

I thought they were saying that means the TCells kicked in first to help recovery, and your body didn't need the Antibodies.

[Cornettoninja]

Anecdotally I’ve noticed that people who are being tested to see if they’re clear of active covid can take a decent amount of time (weeks in some cases). We’re not routinely re-testing positive cases to see if they’re clear in the U.K. (as far as I know) and it makes me wonder if we’re potentially testing for antibodies too soon in a lot of people. That said I’ve no idea how these things work or whether you’d have antibodies at the same time as an infection.

I’ve just been tested (through work) and they’re screening everyone but I’ve never needed a covid test so I’ll be amazed if it comes back positive.

[Ernieshere]

@Storyofcats We are on here if you need a chat, we are mostly on 14 weeks.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3930045-Covid-Lungs-week-8-plus-plus?pg=23


@Cornettoninja
A fair few have been positive that did not have symptoms.

[PineappleUpsideDownCake]

Maddy . It was withdrawn as its only 99% accurate if taken from veins by a medical professional. Abbott were in the news saying they wouldnt be accurate.

[CaptainMyCaptain]

Some of my husband's nhs colleagues tested negative for antibodies even though they had had Covid (positive test).

[AnnoyingPigeon]

Thank you all for the information, I think I was just surprised/gutted as I assumed I'd have some immunity but I guess it's not as easy as that, as it's all so new. Sorry to hear you've been so unwell @Storyofcats, I hope you're back to your best soon