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Covid

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Original poster

Has anyone paid for a private antibody test?

26 replies

AntiHop · 21/09/2020 12:26

I was wondering about doing this. I think there is a good chance I had it in late march. I can afford the cost of the test.

I'm pregnant and have asthma, and my job involves going on public transport and being around a lot of people.

I know it won't give me any guarantee of anything, whatever the result is. I'm being extremely cautious (barely doing anything social at all) and getting a positive antibody test would make me feel a little less anxious.

OP posts:

FallenMadonnawiththeBadBoobies · 21/09/2020 12:32

I have just ordered one - £39. This is because 2 family members lost their sense of taste and smell in March (no other symptoms) and have both just had a positive antibody test.

I think I had it in late October (yes, I know many don't think it was around then) and had fairly severe symptoms for several months. Even if I did have it, I know that it might not show up on the test, but it's worth a go.

supercalifragilistic123 · 21/09/2020 12:36

I wouldn't bother. Myself and several people (more than 10) I know thought they'd had it but all tested negative. My understanding is the levels required to give a positive are high. A negative result doesn't mean you haven't had it.

I only know 2 people who tested positive, out of around 150 in my workplace. One of them had no idea, the other only had loss of smell.

OverTheRainbow88 · 21/09/2020 12:53

I was thinking the same, but I also think I had it mid March so from what I’m reading I wonder if it’s pointless as antibodies would be gone by now!

CaveMum · 21/09/2020 12:59

I know two people who have paid for them, both returned positive. One was last ill in March and the other returned from South Africa with a cough last September and hasn’t been ill since.

damselindedress · 21/09/2020 13:26

I paid for an antibody blood test from Bupa and it came back positive as expected.

I knew I'd had it as had been ill for three weeks beginning of lockdown and had all the symptoms - I'm only just beginning to get my sense of smell back now but they weren't testing everyone at the time i was sick.

It was good to know for sure as it meant I could visit my parents and in-laws with a much smaller risk of taking the virus with me.

No idea how long the antibodies last though, I had the test at least 4 months after I was sick so ABs could have worn off by now for all I know.

TuttiFrutti · 21/09/2020 13:30

I had one in late April, after being ill with what I thought was Covid in late March. Result: negative.

My sister's whole family did the same tests, after 3 of the 5 of them were ill. Her dh and one ds (who had lost sense of taste and smell) tested positive, she (flu like symptoms) and the other 2 dc (no symptoms) tested negative.

damselindedress · 21/09/2020 13:40

@TuttiFrutti did you have a blood test?

That's interesting as my family were sick too but haven't been tested.

I think your sisters family prob still all had it but not everyone produced ABs. My brother and his partner had it, he got a positive result and she got a negative result. It's highly unlikely all were sick at the Same time with different viruses. Were the people who got positive results more sick?

At Bupa they did say it's perfectly possible to get a false negative but not the other way around.

Chocaholic9 · 21/09/2020 13:46

Yes I had one. It was negative. My advice, don't forget to go there well hydrated. It's a finger prick test. I had just woken up and was dehydrated and blood wasn't runny, they were trying to squeeze blood out of me to get it in the right place in this stick thingy....Much worse than a blood test. I had to sit on the floor because I felt so sick. They didn't manage it on the first two tries and I had blood running down my arm but not where they needed it to be

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 21/09/2020 13:51

where can i get one of these tests please?

MayFayre · 21/09/2020 13:54

I had one done at a BUPA GP surgery a few weeks ago for £65. It came back negative, as I expected. Dh was convinced he’d had Covid in March (I wasn’t so sure) and his came back negative too.

damselindedress · 21/09/2020 13:54

@NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 www.bupa.co.uk/health/payg/covid-testing

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 21/09/2020 13:56

Tks!!!!

Ontopofthesunset · 21/09/2020 13:57

We had it towards the end of March and DH paid for a test at the pharmacy about 3 weeks ago - still strong antibodies. I haven't tested as I was much less ill so I reckon I won't have any antibodies by now.

AlexaShutUp · 21/09/2020 14:00

I did an antibody test as part of a research study. It was negative, as expected. However, they made it really clear that the tests aren't 100% reliable on an individual level, and nobody should change their behaviour as a result.

HappyInL0nd0n · 21/09/2020 14:03

I tested in June having been very sick in Feb - lethargic, no taste, killer sore throat - and it came back negative. I was disappointed not to have had it but glad to know anyway as it's stopped me going around annoying people by insisting I've already had it.

FinallyHere · 21/09/2020 14:15

Our local pharmacy does them for £49

We were both done on July, both negative.

Lockdownfatigue · 21/09/2020 14:19

I would in a heartbeat if I thought it would a. Be accurate and B. Give me useful information.

I don’t really trust it and also having antibodies doesn’t guarantee immunity so I wonder if the test gives false reassurance and could possibly contribute to spread?

TuttiFrutti · 21/09/2020 15:26

Damselindedress, I had a blood test where they take the blood out of your arm and send it off to a lab, not the finger prick test. Done in a private clinic.

I actually think the results were probably correct, although very disappointing as I would have liked to have had it. There were lots of viruses going around in March and I probably had flu.

My sister was ill, but not in the same way as her dh (she was actually more ill, with a higher temperature, he just felt like he had a bad cold but crucially he lost his sense of taste and smell and she didn't).

Smileyoriley · 21/09/2020 19:04

I had the blood test from my arm last week as I had all the symptoms of COVID before lockdown and was curious. It came back negative and my NHS friends and relatives say this reflects their experience. So much yet to learn about this virus.

ASchuylerSister · 21/09/2020 19:08

I did and it was negative. In Feb I had classic Covid symptoms for 3 weeks so was convinced I had had it.

Before I fell ill in Feb, I’d been in contact with quite a few people who had returned unwell after skiing in Europe over feb half term, so was convinced I’d had it.

Itsabeautifuldayheyhey · 21/09/2020 19:21

Has anyone paid for a private antibody test?
I'm sure someone has.

Pachonga · 21/09/2020 19:24

I had one, it came back negative. I still think I had the Rona in March (no pcr tests available then) but by the time I had the antibody test in July, they’d gone.

november90 · 21/09/2020 19:55

Where are you guys getting your tests from and how my big you don't mind me asking? I've only seen Superdrug offering it for £40!

november90 · 21/09/2020 19:56

I mean £80 sorry!

ASchuylerSister · 21/09/2020 20:11

I got mine from testing for all. It’s a finger prick one so I know some don’t say it’s as accurate but it has the CE mark and is made by Roche who is heard of before so trusted

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