Antibody testing thread 2

[Egghead68]

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

@Ernieshere yes I think that’s right.

I believe there are some questions over the interpretation of the Bergamo figures now (translation prob).

@Sweetnhappy1 thank you. I developed sore throat/cough/chest pain/breathing probs/fatigue etc etc late March working in the NHS (still suffering - colleagues recovered more quickly) but tested negative for IgG. Doesn’t seem to be a very clear pattern to it.

I have not RTFT because the advice has kept changing, but can anyone tell me if you can buy privately a venous (ie not fingerprick) Abbott test? I would be able to draw my own blood...

@Wunderweb Private Coronavirus Tests are still selling and processing home test kits (finger prick tests).

I had one through work (NHS) and it was negative. Had symptoms for 5 weeks, cough, sob, headaches, tight chest, gastric problems...i was surprised to see it was something else

Not necessarily something else @Cusano34. Negative results are not reliable.

@egghead68 I had a negative swab too in April so I think it probably was something else. All the nurses in my team have been off at least once since lockdown with symptoms and all have been negative antibody test too. I think it’s important to remember there are many other bugs out there just like every year

It depends on the symptoms, timecourse and incubation period I guess. Probably around 20% cases of covid are missed by the antibody test.

Video from a GP about negative antibody tests, particularly in relation to long-haul symptoms:

m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=AuKAg52mz4s

Thanks @WonderCheek but I can only see phlebotomy/venous kits are moment.

@WonderTweek

More results here.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3937664-Antibody-test?msgid=97432304#97432304

@Wunderweb Ahh, sorry. I've just checked again and the home test option seems to have disappeared. That's really odd because they have processed my sample this week. Maybe they were getting loads of re-tests due to failed samples, or maybe accuracy was the issue.

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8417409/Am-proof-people-never-immune-Covid-19.html

Thought appropriate for this thread

Interesting article - thanks @findingschools4myboys.

Just checking in as you dropped off my threads

@Egghead68 thank you for the video, that was very interesting

This is a bit outing so I might get it deleted later on.

A friend of mine and partner got tested here:
wrenhealthcare.co.uk/covid-19-antibody-test-drive-through-service/

Partner, who works in London and had colleagues in hospital with confirmed cases, and was very ill at home at the peak time tested positive. My friend who had "a minor cold" around the same time tested negative.

Is this the test the government bought millions of them decided not to use? 100% sensitivity is good though? If it's positive it's 100% correct if it's negative then you might or might not have had it?

Thanks! I don’t think any of the tests are 100% sensitive (it’s not possible) but some are near 100% specific (I.e. You can trust a positive but not a negative result).

Copying the link here:
wrenhealthcare.co.uk/covid-19-antibody-test-drive-through-service/

I tested positive (after mild symptoms) for the antigen at the end of March, and positive for the antibody last week using the Abbott system (NHS).

So has worked for me, even though the symptoms were really mild (and I'm classified as obese - no other underlying disease - and nearly 50).

I got results today from an Abbot Test taken by a phlebotomist and it was negative.
I’m really surprised and disappointed.

Wunderweb Reports are saying that is because your TCells kicked in to help you fight the infection before needing to produce Antibodies.

Thanks @ernieshere

I’ve tried adding the result to Zoe App but there’s no option for this?

Hi Wunderweb - there should be an option on the second page of the Zoe app that looks like this.

@Wunderweb tagging you for post above.