Antibody test

[SunbathingDragon]

I’m having my antibody test today (NHS keyworker).

I felt terrible in December with fever, fatigue, sore throat, loss of taste and appetite etc but been fine ever since. I didn’t have a cough at all, but not everyone does. Obviously could have had it asymptotically since then and as the test won’t conclusively say when I had it, if I have, it will still leave me questioning whether December’s virus was covid or not.

Anyone had a positive antibody test and questioning if they had the virus a long time ago?

Negative test here too. Unwell mid March

Don't they think that some people don't primarily fight Covid by forming antibodies, but defeat it by some mechanism involving T cells? Particularly younger people.

There also seems to be an idea that people who've recently recovered from other coronaviruses, eg common cold, may fight off Covid more easily. A sort of priming effect.

I think that's why when they're looking for people to donate plasma for antibody injections for very ill Covid patients that they ask for older men - over 50 (55?).

I had my anti body test Thursday results came Friday which was positive. I remember feeling rough at the end of March for two days but had none of the symptoms (I have been working with covid patients)

Me and dp front line workes. I'm positive for antibodies. Loss smell and taste around easter, working with patients confirmed covid.. my dp tested negative.

Do you mean they are being tested for antibodies prior to being accepted for the vaccine trial or they are tested after the trial vaccine has been administered?

Sorry, I should have been clearer - being tested for antibodies prior to being accepted.

SummerHouse,I had symptoms end of March beginning of April. ( I didn't know how to highlight your name).

"I think that's why when they're looking for people to donate plasma for antibody injections for very ill Covid patients that they ask for older men - over 50 (55?)"

The Blood Service asked lol registered donors about COVID and plasma. It wasn't restricted to older men, as my teenager got the email

Have they yet established if plasma treatment is promising?

The BMA are currently investigating claims that members have been refused life insurance, critical illness cover and even mortgages based solely on a positive covid antibody test result

This is interesting. So they think those people would be higher risk than those who could still get covid, I would have thought would have been the opposite.

sunbathingdragon I haven't had mine yet, waiting for my slot.

I had a positive antibody test last week (NHS) and was unusually unwell in both Jan and Feb. Sinus, headaches, lethargy. Did four flights in six weeks though to Spain and Tenerife at the time. Interestingly, the same Tenerife resort where COVID kicked off.
I've been face to face with patients ever since too although have ppe (flimsy).
Who knows?

Don't to want to out myself but I'm currently self isolating from work. Looking after a patient who tested negative. Wore simple face mask, gloves etc Second test now positive. I do wonder whether poor swab technique could play a role.

@raviolidreaming

Do you mean they are being tested for antibodies prior to being accepted for the vaccine trial or they are tested after the trial vaccine has been administered?

Sorry, I should have been clearer - being tested for antibodies prior to being accepted.

Thanks @raviolidreaming

I didn't know antibody tests were widely available. Or available at all through the NHS. How does one get an antibody test please?

I work with a company that has its own lab and are currently validating the approved tests. They aren't testing their staff yet as they don't trust the tests. This is a highly professional & capable lab. Speaks volumes to me. I also think the swab tests for virus are very difficult to self administer properly.

My partner is nhs I'm sure I have had it 100% had the worst cough high temperature and a basically felt like I had flu but nothing else and I never get a cough.
Week later he came down with high temperature sore throat.
He tested negative 🤷🏻‍♂️

Negative test here too, still got some symptoms 12 weeks later. We had a whole thread on this, most of us were coming back negative. Quite a lot of articles/research on people not producing antibodies even after being tested positive. Maybe something to do with T cells?

My DH is frontline working with Covid patients. He just got back his antibody test which was positive. He had cold symptoms back in early March but didn't have the listed symptoms then so was refused a swab test. Hasn't been unwell since so he probably did have it then. Incidentally the rest of the family had a sore throat around the same time!
One of his colleagues that had positive swab test had a negative antibody test.
The virologist from their hospital says it seems that if you had few/no symptoms you are more likely to have made a lots of antibodies. Whereas if you had lots of/worse symptoms you are more likely to get a negative result. Then there's also the theory about T cells