Antibody test - surprised at negative result

[AnnoyingPigeon]

I had a private antibody test last week. I got the result this morning - a negative (it was the Siemens’ SARS-COV-2 Total Antibody test).

I'm really shocked because DH and DS both had exact covid symptoms several weeks ago, DH's were mild but he has even had the weird 'covid toe'. DS spent about 5 nights coughing directly into my face, and had had the temperature for days beforehand (this was before testing was done for people who had manageable symptoms, we were just told to self-isolate). I did have mild cold symptoms but they did include a slightly raised temperature and a cough.

Anyone else had the same? I feel a bit gutted.

[Storyofcats]

Thanks @AnnoyingPigeon and @Ernieshere! I was on the early lungs threads under another user name ..no idea why my username keeps changing back and forth but anyway I might pop in and say hi :)

[Casino218]

Have you not read any of the millions ( well ok thousands) of threads on Mumsnet, Slack, FB, the papers re the amount of negative antibody tests? It's hardly surprising. In a London hospital only 25%of the healthcare workers who had previously tested positive for Covid got a positive antibody test.

[GenderApostate19]

It’s all very well saying that there were numerous viruses circulating at the same time as covid - however- what are the chances of having something with exactly the same symptoms, the likes of which you’ve never experienced with any other cold or flu?
If there is/ was something similar doing the rounds - why haven’t they identified what it is/was ?
It’s really annoying me, if I genuinely didn’t have covid ( neg test) what the hell did I have that gave identical symptoms? I was ‘mild’ but have a lingering cough and stomach issues some 8 weeks later.

[ChubbyPigeon]

I had a negative antibody test and Im sure I had covid in march

Lots of people who had it around then similar

Staff with positive swabs had negative antibody tests.

[AnnoyingPigeon]

@Casino218 I haven't - I'm relatively new to Mumsnet, I'm not on Facebook and I've never heard of Slack. I only know one person who's had an antibody test, he's a nurse and had a positive result after having Covid in April. My mum is an NHS worker and she's heard she might be having one next week - she's never had any symptoms though so she thinks it'll be negative. It was mainly DH's covid toe (and DS' terrible cough) that made us think we've had it, he's never had a randomly red, swollen toe before.