Antibody testing thread 2

[Egghead68]

Thread for people thinking about, doing, or awaiting results of COVID-19 antibody tests.

Previous related thread here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3900355-i-have-gone-nuts-and-paid-someone-to-come-to-my-house-and-do-an-antibody-test-on-us?watched=1&msgid=96828055#96828055

I’m still waiting for the results of the Blue Horizon Abbott test (home blood draw) I sent off last Thursday. Found it difficult getting sufficient blood in the vial.

Hello all. Just checking in as I was following the last thread. My antibody test arrived yesterday - I’m going to do it tomorrow and send it off on Tuesday. I think it’s unlikely to be positive to be honest as our symptoms were all fairly mild but I’m keen to find out anyway!

@Egghead68 Snap. Except I sent mine on Wednesday and according to Royal Mail it still hasn't arrived. Annoying because I could have just driven over and dropped it at the lab.

Hi 👋 thanks for the new thread! I'm on test take 3 if I redo it again 🤦‍♀️

Oh blimey Haget. Your poor fingers.

Thanks for the new thread! I'm waiting for my results (sent test back on Thursday), although I think it will probably be a negative. We shall see!

Checking in, mine was also sent back Thursday - forgot it’s was a bank holiday weekend.

Which test did you all choose and why?.Am considering getting one.

@TARSCOUT I went for an Abbott one with Blue Horizon as it was the cheapest at the time (£99) and said to be reasonably reliable. Babylon health and Superdrug are doing tests for £69. Some people pay to get the tests done by a doctor or nurse e.g. in a private GP practice.

It’s worth knowing that the NHS have only approved the Abbott and Roche tests at present although another is due to be approved soon.

I’ll join this thread!
I took my first antibody test back in early April. Have only used rapid ones but they were all
Positive - Surescreen, Nadal and Biozek. And as predicted the igG lime has become stronger and igM line weaker over time.
My husband also tested positive. My youngest son tested positive (only did one test for him!) my two eldest have tested negative (although eldest had a slight igM line first time I tested him) but I think they are false negatives as they were both also a bit poorly at the same time as us. Mild fevers, one son lost his voice for 5 days while the other one was having bad headaches.
I am having my eldest blood drawn by a doctor next week to check again with the Abbott Test. He is meant to go to school, will feel every so slightly better about him going if I know for sure he already has had the virus. (I know they don’t know what type of immunity there is now but most likely there is at a minimum short term immunity! )

I ordered a test from Superdrug. I posted it back yesterday. Not sure when the results will come, given it's a Bank Holiday weekend.

I didn't have any difficulty getting out enough blood. I used only one lancet. My little finger is a bit bruised now!

@EGGHEAD68 thank you!

I did the Blue Horizon one too - I chose them because I read they had a quick turn around ... I wanted ASAP as I was 4+ weeks after symptoms & the IgG levels drop quite quickly apparently (though you need to wait for 14 days for levels to rise).

They were incredibly quick - I ordered it on Wednesday, courier delivered it on a Thursday, did the test & posted it back (royal
Mail priority box) on Friday (completely forgetting it was a bank holiday) & I got the result last night.

But other people on the thread still haven’t had results do it seems a bit random.

It was negative btw, I had fever + sore throat + terrible sinus pain & was pretty unwell for 10 days ... dh had ‘covid toes’! We both tested negative on the swab tests (NHS). I think with hindsight mine was probably a sinus infection (probably could’ve done with antibiotics) & dh was just a weird coincidence. I’m glad I did it though because I didn’t really trust the swab (did mine on the 7th day of illness) and I couldn’t figure out how we could have caught it if it was coronavirus.

Thanks for the new thread. Interesting to follow.

I am considering having an antibody test and probably will go for a venous blood draw in private GP setting. Does anyone think there is any point waiting for the Roche test at this point or is it likely to be some time before anything but the Abbot one is accessible?

@Inkpaperstars if you happen to work for the NHS, the Roche and/or Abbott test may be available to you in the next few weeks.

We don’t have any information regarding when these will be available free of charge to non-NHS workers.

There is also the problem that levels of IgG antibodies MAY fall after 30 days post-infection as Laniakea says.

I should add that I don’t think you can buy the Roche test currently as a private individual (although I may be wrong) and I haven’t heard whether this will be possible in the near future. Others may know more though.

Thanks for the new thread

Checking in, still deciding on whether to order a test or wait for the Roche one (if it becomes available to the general public, dh is an essential worker so wondering if they will roll them out for families of essential workers later on down the line as they did with testing).

Thanks for new thread @Egghead68.

I’ve got my Abbott fingerprick equipment waiting for me in the kitchen- going to do it tomorrow morning so can post next day and send special delivery as when I sent my swab test via the prepaid sample back it took a week to arrive. Absolutely dreading doing the fingerprick thingy with everyone’s tales of how horrendous it is, I was dreading it before that. Any tips for getting a good amount of blood first go??

It was fine - didn’t hurt at all, I used my ring finger.

I warned my hand with a hot water bottle before I started & pumped my fist a few times. After stabbing don’t squeeze it or press hard - that will just make the wound stop bleeding. Try keep your hand below the level of your heart (stand up to do it) and touch the blood drop onto the side of the pot. If it starts to slow down wipe the wound with a dry tissue (really works) and make a fist a few more times. You might need to ‘milk’ your finger but again if you put too much pressure on it will stop bleeding. It takes quite a long time - 15 minutes to fill the pot, just be patient.

Ffs warmed not warned !

Superdrug, treated and medichecks are sold out for now. Anyone recommend other companies? I was ill mid March and slightly worried about wasting money if my antibody levels have gone down.

We discussed this on the other thread but none of the companies flogging tests mention it. Is it too late do you think? Are they assuming most people were infected in April?

I had my results on Saturday, I did the Abbott one which was £49 for NHS workers (and £99 for non-NHS). And was ridiculously pleased that it was positive and I have antibodies! I was unwell for around 15 days from about 5th April but like most I kept telling myself that it couldn't be Covid and I probably just had a normal bug, even though I had pretty much all the symptoms bar fever. I do feel reassured to know that I've definitely had it, and feeling the need to tell EVERYBODY I know