Antibody testing thread 2

[Egghead68]

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

Thank you @findingschoolsformyboys. Very interesting!

@user34254356

This paper
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.15.20066407v2

says that in blood from recovered Covid-19 patients levels of IgG antibodies – those responsible for longer-lasting immunity – rose steeply in the first month of infection but then began to fall again.

This is an independent evaluation of the Abbott test:
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/887221/PHE_Evaluation_of_Abbott_SARS_CoV_2_IgG.pdf

This is an evaluation of the Roche test
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/887222/PHE_Evaluation_of_Roche_Elecsys_anti_SARS_CoV_2.pdf

This study found that not everyone develops antibodies:
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.30.20047365v2

I was sick from mid-march - couldn't breath, tight, heavy lungs, sore throat, fever, weird dry cough I'd never had before, crippling fatigue, headaches, etc. I tested negative on the Abbot finger prick test. Annoying, as if I'd known the stats (only 87% effective after 40 days) and that Abbott themselves don't recommend finger prink method, I'd have waited for the Roche test.

Congratulations @Moogletea!

Just got my results at 9.30 this evening for Abbott test via treated.com - Negative. Very disappointing but it was 8 weeks ago- I’ve still got the cough now and I had all the usual symptoms. Just have to wait for the Roche one then. Crestfallen.

@NaturalBlondeYeahRight

Loads of people in the Reddit group testing negative for antibodies, even after testing positive via swab: www.reddit.com/r/COVID19positive/comments/gq92zd/yet_another_diagnosed_positive_with_negative/

Sorry to hear that @NaturalBlondeYeahRight. Hopefully the Roche test will show antibodies.

This is about the swab antigen test so probably of only tangential interest but:
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/25/doctors-condemn-secrecy-over-false-negative-covid-19-tests

@Findingschoolsformyboys didn't you have all your tests very early on?

Sorry to hear yours was negative @CourtneyLurve. Thanks very much for the link.

Has anyone had a positive result who had symptoms in January or February? I know there are rumours that it was in the country then.
I had all the symptoms in February but believe it is probably a virus with similar symptoms but you never know.

I would like a test as believe I had this at the end of January. But not much point having a test that only picks up antibodies within the last 6 weeks. Is the Roche test available to buy yet?

Has anyone used the Thriva test?

Glad to have found this thread! I got the Superdrug test and sent it off Saturday completely forgetting about the bank holiday. I really struggled to get enough blood, I used all the little lance things that came with it and only just got over the first line so I don’t know if that will be enough. Hopefully I will find out over the next few days. I went to my doctor pre corona as I felt really drained and had a burning pain in my lungs which doesn’t really match it but I’m interested in case it was.

If anyone thinks they might need more than the 2-3 lancets supplied with the antibody kits you can buy extra for around £5 from Amazon.

I’ve just received my negative result using the Abbott test. Started feeling ill around 18th March. Can’t see how it can have been anything other than covid given my symptoms and I was ill for several weeks. Still have a cough. Anyone ill during that month or so had no access to any swab testing either, which is frustrating.

I worked out a very good method to collect the blood though (having failed before to take finger prick home blood tests before!).

@Fragglerock2 same here. I am still ill and got a negative on the Abbott test. Some of us will never know what we had and still have to worry about catching covid.

I had virus starting 5th March and has an antibody test at local pharmacy last week! Came back positive! My husband weirdly didn't get sick but my mother has mild symptoms and her test came back negative 🤔

@findingschools4myboys
Where did you buy the Surescreen and Biotech test)

@user34254356, that’s exactly it. The not knowing. I just would like to know that my instinct (and 111 calls) were right - that I definitely had it. It isn’t about knowing if I have developed long term immunity as no one knows that yet. It’s about knowing I can recognise it, and knowing that I sort of fought it off.

Similarly if I didn’t have it, goodness knows what I had then with my symptoms. I’ve never felt so oddly ill in my life.

Morning, this article is interesting and shows why we suddenly couldn’t find ‘Abbott Test’ in any websites. Basically, if I understand it properly, Abbott have said they are not confident capillary blood will give accurate results and wanted companies to stop doing those kinds of tests. Can someone else give it a read and see if they agree.
Are Abbott saying that we need a proper blood test?

Sorry, forgot to attach
www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/news-and-analysis/news/approved-covid-19-antibody-test-not-intended-for-home-use-manufacturer-warns/20207990.article?firstPass=false

@NaturalBlondeYeahRight Thanks for posting that. Someone else posted an article that said the same thing in a previous thread so I believe your conclusions are correct. Very annoying. I feel like I was mis sold the test.

Yes that was reported in the media last week.

It was never approved to be used in this format

@Fragglerock2 I am sorry about your negative test. Would you mind posting or pming details of your finger prick method please?

As I recall these tests were originally validated for clinician blood-draw use but there were subsequently some statements that they were valid for home use too. Not sure what this was based on.

Thank you for the article @NaturalBlondeYeahRight. Maybe this means everyone who purchased a home year kit can apply for a refund under the Trades Description Act or some such. Does anyone know?