Is there a way to check your Covid immunity?

[Boringlynormal]

Does anyone know of a test you can do? I know there’s an antibody test but I think it’s just a yes or no isn’t it? And antibodies not being present doesn’t mean you don’t have immunity right?

Asking as I had AZ vaccine and am mid 30s and not keen on getting my second one. I had possible Covid back in Feb ‘20 while making regular visits to hospital though wasn’t very sick (other family members were worse) so it may be I had antibodies, boosted by AZ vaccine and that’s enough. But is there a way to be sure?

@MrsFin

Same as sansou's DP.

Sansou says her DP tested negative for covid, and positive for antibodies, which is what I would expect. You said your relative tested positive for covid, and her boss said it was because of the vaccine? But the vaccine doesn't cause you to have covid or test postivr for it, it causes you to have antibodies (which wouldn't be detected by a covid test).

@TheVanguardSix

Absolutely go and have the test done at Superdrug/Boots. Those at-home antibody tests are a NIGHTMARE. It all sounds so simple: prick your finger, fill the vial with your blood. If you're diabetic and used to lancets, then fine- even then though, it is a total PITA. A) A lancet prick is painful. B)It'll take you until Christmas to fill that vial. I think they shouldn't even be marketing those at-home antibody kits. They are the biggest money-making scam ever. Going into Superdrug to have one done by a qualified nurse/HCA would be much better.

I’m doing them as part of a research study. Everything you say is true, as well as the fact that once you start the procedure you are effectively working one handed while the other is dripping blood. However, I haven’t really had many opportunities to help during the pandemic and as an ex healthcare worker this didn’t sit right with me, so I’m happy to have a chance to do my bit. It was also a funny story to tell my friends.

The test was positive for two types of antibodies

I'm in an antibody study. I have antibodies from one AZ jab, but none from having had Covid. I was pretty sure I hadn't had it, so I have the proof. It's hard to fill the vial with blood, but worth it to know I have some immunity. Get a test done.

The study advised they don't test for antibodies from having both vaccines (presumably because they're T cell and not what they're studying).

My antibody test was for N-antibodies (from previous Covid) and S-antibodies (from the vaccine).

Thanks for your helpful post re the testing procedure @CrunchyCarrot, which I didn’t read until after I’d posted my own. I did get a bit flustered part way through as I think I expected the blood flow to be faster, and it was a pretty steep learning curve so I’m confident the next one will be much easier.

@Iwantcauliflowercheese

I'm in an antibody study. I have antibodies from one AZ jab, but none from having had Covid. I was pretty sure I hadn't had it, so I have the proof. It's hard to fill the vial with blood, but worth it to know I have some immunity. Get a test done.

I had both! which was a bit of a shock as I’m not aware of either having had Covid or being in contact in the last few months with anyone who has had it (I tested negative for antibodies in November).

It's DSis, not DS. She works in a hospital, though was wfh all last week. She lives alone, and hasn't got Covid. Someone medical in the hospital has told her it was a false positive due to her jabs.

@MrsFin

It's DSis, not DS. She works in a hospital, though was wfh all last week. She lives alone, and hasn't got Covid. Someone medical in the hospital has told her it was a false positive due to her jabs.

Someone doesn't know what they are talking about. It's a scientific impossibility and she's either been misinformed or has misunderstood.

www.pat.nhs.uk/working-for-us/staff-vaccination-faqs.htm#Could%20vaccination%20cause%20a%20false-positive%20COVID-19%20lateral%20flow%20device%20(LFD)%20antigen%20test%20result,%20or%20a%20false-positive%20PCR%20test%20result?

@MrsFezziwig

The study advised they don't test for antibodies from having both vaccines (presumably because they're T cell and not what they're studying).

My antibody test was for N-antibodies (from previous Covid) and S-antibodies (from the vaccine).

Are you on the SIREN study too?

I'll be gutted if I have no antibodies at all despite being fully vaccinated and having had the virus!

Thank you it sounds like there is an option for an antibody test. I’m not worried about doing a finger prick as I’ve done one before and was ok. Hard to activate the lancet as I was panicking but after that it was ok.

There's only one way to test your immunity. Go on a covid ward and get some of the patients to spit in your mouth.

Antibodies are useful for measuring recent immunity - but they fade with time - that however means nothing. Antibodies are produced by B cells that turn into memory B cells. The latter can hang around for decades and if they encounter the antigen again, rapidly produce antibodies once more.

The study is called VirusWatch (I think run by Imperial College). The information does say even with a negative test you may still have antibodies, just not at a level to trigger a positive, but obviously it was nice to have proof that the antibodies were there!

@MrsFezziwig

The study is called VirusWatch (I think run by Imperial College). The information does say even with a negative test you may still have antibodies, just not at a level to trigger a positive, but obviously it was nice to have proof that the antibodies were there!

That was for *@JazzTheDog,* not sure why my quote option failed me!

You need a spike protein antibody test that shows the exact titer (level). Best done through a GP or hospital. Anything above 1:4000 gives you immunity. After Pfizer, most people have 1:10,000+. The strength of side effects do seem correlate with higher titers. The person we know who had the worst side effects had an antibody level of over 1:40,000