Antibody testing thread 2

[Egghead68]

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

I warned my hand

"Now don't worry Pinky, it will be ok. It's just a little prick and it will all be over. There, there. Don't cry."

... more “now come on you fucker don’t be pathetic I don’t want to have to do this twice”

Congratulations Skade! You must’ve had a great antibody response to be detectable from early April ... I’d be proud of my immune system if that was me :p

For someone who asked earlier about Treated.com being the Abbott test. Because I was sure I saw it on their website but then couldn’t find it, I emailed them to ask. They have just replied to say yes, it is the Abbott test.

Ooh @Laniakea I did not know that - now I'm doubly proud of my immune system!

I’m really pleased for you @Skade! Still waiting to hear back from mine. I got ill March 21st and started improving 8 weeks later. Still far from normal.

I warned my hand

Findingschoolsformyboys that’s dedication to the cause. Do you recommend any of the tests you’ve tried in particular (and any to avoid)?

I'm also interested to know if it is worth having an antibody test or if I am now too late as I was ill end of Feb/start of March. All the symptoms - have never felt so ill in my life - but just assumed it was a bad bout of flu.
Would be great to know if I have had it as would like to volunteer in our local care home but not doing yet as DH is a key worker so I felt I was too much of a risk.

Avebury I think it’s only one study that found IgG levels falling after 30 days. The Roche test is supposed to get MORE sensitive with time (up to a point). The Abbott test may get less sensitive after 40 days but this is based on a very small sample (8). Please note this is what I have gleaned from these threads. I have not looked into it myself and you may want to do your own research.

In your shoes I would think it is worth a shot provided you can spare the money.

@Skade I could have written your post, I was also ridiculously pleased by my positive result and have told everyone I know

Took the Abbott test via londondoctorsclinic on Friday, waiting to hear results! I was sick in mid March so hopefully still antibodies kicking around.

@Laniakea thanks for the tips - arghhh will have a strong coffee beforehand!

@LatinforTelly try Treated.com

I came to ask if it’s worth me having a test as I am pretty sure I started with it mid-late February and that is a long time ago. Still getting post viral symptoms though. Looks like the Roche test would be a better option for me if it becomes available?

thank you Egghead

I dont have any special access to tests, not nhs or anything. I think if I was infected it was late March and a v mild case so I am a bit nervous about the Abbot one time wise, but then if I wait for the Roche one it might be ages away, and if I end up having the Abbot instead anyway it will be even further from infection.

My sense of smell is still not back to how it was though, just having thought about the timing now that's longer than I realised.

I was ill starting March 13th and got a positive off the abbot test this week. I'm also chuffed - I'd been exposed to someone with it but still thought people would think I was making it up if I said I thought I had it

I find the finger prick not to bad. Made sure I had nice warm hands and gently squeezed - only took a couple of minutes to get a tube full

Top tip - make sure you secure the tube. I started shaking and knocked the tube over - lightening action stopped me losing the whole lot

I did the Superdrug test and it came back negative, despite having been diagnosed with the virus in March & still suffering from it. I don’t think it’s accurate.

Has anyone sent back a test to a lab for an under 18? Doesn't say you can't on any of the sites apart from Treated, but don't want to pay for a test and then find out they won't process it

Yes.
My son is 13.

despite having been diagnosed with the virus

Diagnosed with a swab?

@HowFurloughCanYouGo

Which company did you get your test from?

Private coronavirus test.com

Thanks Bananasandorangesss , treated.com has sold out whilst I've been dithering One coming up is Atruchecks but website looks hastily set up for covid 19. Anyone else used them?

I took the abbott test about 9 weeks after my first set of symptoms. It was negative though I am still unwell. I might not have had covid but I was reading this thread below and a few posters have mentioned reduced sensitivity of the test as the time elapses. Can you provide reference to the article(s) which mentions this?

@Egghead68
Hello! Well for me they were all positive and accurate and I first had symptoms 11th March. I gave a Surescreen test to my brother in law last week who had symptoms end of February and his came up positive!
Although I have a friend who was around me when I was ill who couldn’t get an igG like on the Surescreen test but got a positive with the Biozek.
And actually another friend of mine who was sick same time as me got a negative on the Surescreen (husband positive) and then she also took Abbott and that came back as positive.
So basically I think you have to have a reasonable amount of antibodies for the rapid tests to detect them. I believe the less symptoms you have the bigger chance there is of it turning up negative even if you actually had it.

@user34254356
Actually, my husbands first test early April came up very strongly for igG and igM. Then when he had another test around 3-4 weeks later there was no line on igM and a barely visible line on the igG so looks as if his antibodies had become less detectable.