How reliable are the antibody tests?

[HelenStewart77]

I've been unwell since the end of November.
My symptoms were mostly gastric but the dr says it "could have been Covid but we'll never know".
I'm still VERY post viral. Completely exhausted all the time.
I've spent £70 on a Lloyds Pharmacy antibody tests but I'm not sure how reliable they are?
If it's negative have I DEFINITELY not had Covid? 🤷🏻‍♀️

I've just received a letter asking me to take part in research for an antibody test, it states several times in the letter that the tests are not 100% effective.

I’ve just done one, can’t remember the exact figures but I was happy enough that I wouldn’t get a false positive. I found the stats online on the suppliers website.
On a different note it was difficult to bleed enough!

No test is 100% reliable

It's the Lloyds one which says 91% I think.
The dr suggested against getting one as she said they are so unreliable!

It’s important to remember there are so many other bugs going around. At the moment, if anyone is ill they automatically think it’s covid.

I had one done. Last March I became very ill with my asthma very quickly with ??Covid symptoms but at that time they were only testing hospital inpatients. They did consider admitting me but I was so worried about the risk I chose to have a nebuliser at home. It took months for things to improve and I’ve had to go on much stronger meds which I doubt I’ll ever be able to stop. I did have an antibody test but it was negative. However when I saw a respiratory specialist she said it’s not always accurate in women on a child bearing age - something about having less killer T cells to decrease the risk of miscarriage. She said we will probably never know if I had Covid but my chest scan certainly showed evidence of improving infection (6 months after I first got ill!). To answer the question, no a negative wouldn’t necessarily mean you hadn’t had Covid, just that you don’t have antibodies now. They think antibodies may not last more than a couple of months anyway.

So I suppose the question is - what do you hope to gain from the test? Is it just knowing that it was Covid and you are probably a long-Covid sufferer? Because ultimately your treatment options are the same really - unfortunately there’s not a lot beyond rest and waiting to recover. I had similar with glandular fever. I get it, it sucks. I hope you feel better soon

@Bixs

It’s important to remember there are so many other bugs going around. At the moment, if anyone is ill they automatically think it’s covid.

This is exactly why I want the test! So many people saying "you've got long Covid"...I want to know I've not had it!

@BountyFul

I’ve just done one, can’t remember the exact figures but I was happy enough that I wouldn’t get a false positive. I found the stats online on the suppliers website. On a different note it was difficult to bleed enough!

You're right there! I did it at lunchtime and my finger is sore and bruised from forcing the blood out! I also realise the return pack was 24hrs tracked delivery and I put it in the post box so it's probably for nothing! 🤦🏻‍♀️