Anyone had the antibody test?

[elliejjtiny]

Just wondering. I've been chosen at random to have a covid antibody test so the nhs can get a rough idea of how many people have antibodies. My test probably won't make any difference but I feel like I'm doing a very tiny bit to help.

@rookiemere I had something in March but couldn't have an antibody test last month as it wouldn't show up antibodies. The antibodies only show up for around 10 weeks after the infection apparently.

Once the antibodies have done their job you get the memory of the antibody stored in your T cells. You need a T cell test for immunity if you were as far back as March. But I haven't been able to find anyone who does this for covid.

@Dadnotamum72 as I said upthread I think on these surveillance tests the results will be just positive or negative for antibodies, rather than levels.

I got an invitation letter yesterday. I would be very surprised if I was positive as I was shielding until July but will give it a go.

DH was randomly selected and tested positive mid September for the longer lasting antibodies. He was quite poorly mid March, starting the week before lockdown and we suspected he had it. This test confirmed it for us I think.

[quote planningaheadtoday]@rookiemere I had something in March but couldn't have an antibody test last month as it wouldn't show up antibodies. The antibodies only show up for around 10 weeks after the infection apparently.

Once the antibodies have done their job you get the memory of the antibody stored in your T cells. You need a T cell test for immunity if you were as far back as March. But I haven't been able to find anyone who does this for covid.
[/quote]
A 10-week limit isn't right. I had a positive antibody test over 4 months after first symptoms.

My friend had it a couple of months ago and had antibodies present. No huge surprise as she had lost her sense of taste for several weeks.

Took part in a study through work in July (nhs). Negative, which surprised me at the time.

Is the Superdrug antibody test any good? If not how can I get one? I’m not an NHS employee though.

They are all rubbish. Friend was confirmed Covid and had an antibody test recently as an NHS worker. Came back negative.

Yes. Negative.

Had the test after positive swab and positive result for antibodies. Mine was done as an NHS employee

I am part of a trial where I get swabbed and an antibody test every fortnight. 3 tests and all negative. I get 2 viles of blood taken each time for various Covid blood tests. Think they are trialling new methods of detection and use the swab as the control. Interestingly tye swab I get only requires the tip of your nostril to sample and not the horrible Brain swab. Apparently tye one I get is more accurate.

Also got swabbed at Radom intervals previous to this and all negative. I am taking all the testing I am offeted

I had one in the summer. It was negative.

I was surprised. I'm a HCP and was doing high risk procedures throughout covid and had a viral illness over Easter that put me in bed for 5 days (I was swabbed then and was negative, but felt too ill to go back to work earlier than I would have been allowed if it was covid, so I was sure the swab was wrong.

I'm normally pretty fit. It's not like me to take to my bed).

I'm also part of the siren study and have a swab and antibody test fortnightly.

I have no antibodies, I work frontline covid and my dil (nurse) was a confirmed case and was living with us at the time. She still has antibodies 6 months on. I thought maybe I'd been asymptomatic but the results don't support my theory!

Yes and positive. NHS - the whole trust was offered tests. Only 5 of us in a huge department were positive. I suspected I had it March and the other 4 had very definite symptoms but before staff testing was routine

I’ve had two antibody tests through both of my part time jobs. Pin-prick one and a 10ml syringe one - both unfortunately negative. They were within a couple of weeks of was here other, but good to know they both said the same.

Front line NHS during the first surge when we were slammed with covid. Negative antibody test like the majority of my wonderful colleagues. We had great PPE

I had the abbots antibody test at work, mine was the only negative test! However my colleague who had tested positive for antibiotics subsequently contacted and tested positive for covid again, so 🤷‍♀️

Yes, I was sent a test as part of a trial (random selection) I haven’t had Covid so obviously I had no antibodies.

TBH, my negative result probably isn’t useful - they will be more interested in reasons why some people have different antibodies present:
IgM positive
IgG positive
IgM & IgG positive

Did anyone on here get a IgM & IgG (both present) result?
If so, we’re you asked to do further trials?

IgM is the antibody made in the immediate period following infection. IgG comes later & is what is made if you encounter any infection again. A mix means you are transitioning from one to the other. At least that's my understanding.

My test probably won't make any difference but I feel like I'm doing a very tiny bit to help.

Surely most people want the test anyway? They’re £65 at the pharmacy.

Yes had it through work (care industry) cane back next day positive. I knew it would as I had a very Covid Like illness in April whilst working in a Care Home with positive cases. I was working in the admin office and the Manager said we didn’t need to wear masks.

@Howlooseisyourgoose

My test probably won't make any difference but I feel like I'm doing a very tiny bit to help.

Surely most people want the test anyway? They’re £65 at the pharmacy.

Which pharmacy? The only ones I can find are the Superdrug antibody tests.

Yes, paid for a private one back in June. It was negative despite very obvious covid symptoms back in March (no tests back then!) We all had coughs and temperatures and DH had the ‘covid toe’ (Google it if you’ve not seen it)