I have gone nuts and paid someone to come to my house and do an antibody test on us

[LaurieFairyCake]

Can't take anymore not knowing so I've paid £260 to bike out a test from a lab and wait while we stab ourselves and return our blood to the lab

Dh thinks I've gone a bit batshit but I couldn't take anymore

Disclaimer : it won't affect my behaviour in line with current government guidelines

Mine was £125 each. Only I am having it although whole household had the same illness (whatever that illness was). DH said he would wait and see my results before deciding wether to get it. Neither of us are keen on dc getting it as they are young and it could potentially be distressing for them. DC only had a very, very mild version or whatever me and DH had. (Not really ill at all, just a bit more tired than normal and a slightly sore throat.)

Yes, reliable - CE mark, million's used in US. It's the Abbott labs one

£99 each - bought 2 (Dh and I). The extra was for the courier to bike it across and take it back so I don't have to go to the Post Office to send tracked.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8223041/amp/Abbott-announces-new-coronavirus-antibody-blood-test-detect-infected.html

@rookiemere
Ordered it there and my parents forwarded them via the normal post. Mind it took almost a month to arrive in the current situation (personal post quite rightfully is not prioritised).

Yes, the nhs have ordered millions of them

What a pointless waste of money

My understanding was that the unreliable tests the gov said were no good are the ones people could do at home and get a result in a few mins. The one OP has paid for will be sent to a lab to be tested, so should be accurate.

Yes, being tested in lab - results in 2 days

They don't even know if they are reliable, so you won't know anyway.
Even the ones done in a lab aren't proven yet.
FFs hide your cards and money, before you make any other financial decisions.

I had so many options in my mind that I was relieved it was a covid test.

Yes, they are 99.5% reliable. It has been months since I was ill, longer to build up antibodies.

If there's a negative and it's false, nothing will change for me

If it's positive (there aren't false positives only false negatives) then I have bought peace of mind knowing I've had the virus

Today it was a toss up between buying a Eufy or buying this

There are other reputable companies doing the lab ones as well . If I thought I had had it I would do it as well .

How is the test actually performed? Don't you need blood?

And I WILL come back to this and post my results as I know it's of interest

Also please note I have only provided the standard link to the crappy Daily Mail article on the Abbott test and NOT to where I bought it so I can't be accused of promoting any clinic/lab

Yes, finger prick test for blood

Your DH is right - you are a bit nuts

Is this an ad 😅

I’d pay for a test at some point. If I knew it was really accurate I think it would be useful to know.

And have you seen the research on T cells possibly being the way some individuals fight infection

I don't think they mean only a T cell response. I'd be very, very surprised if someone had a viral infection without making antibodies (i.e. a B cell response) to the coat proteins.

Although it's also likely that the T cell response is causing some of the worst symptoms.

How are you going to get a venous blood sample the test requires?

So far a reliable antibody test hasn’t been developed. The one above is still in testing stage.

The drive throughs and testing done in this country so far are antigen tests, not antibody. There’s a massive difference.

Also please note I have only provided the standard link to the crappy Daily Mail article on the Abbott test and NOT to where I bought it so I can't be accused of promoting any clinic/lab

That link says the abbot test requires venous blood, not finger prick?

I want an antibody test as I am convinced my household had it end of December, but I'm waiting for the NHS ones which are going to be available later this month, and unless the government agrees and says those who have had it can be exempt from all the distancing and lockdown, it's pointless having to pay for one.

You don't need a venous blood sample

It's NOT antigen, it's antibody

Ooh interesting. I had a funny cough and sore throat at the beginning of lockdown and I'm hoping that was me covered. I would be lucky if that's the case, of course it's probably not but one can dream.

That was 3 weeks ago blue, now finger prick test

Dr Hillary Jones was saying on the tv yesterday that most of the antibody tests so far have only proven to be up to 75% reliable as they pick up other coronavirus antibodies such as from the common cold. He said a company called Roche have developed one that will pick up only COVID-19 and that will be rolling out in the next few weeks.

How do you get hold of a test? I'd pay to be tested