Bio card covid antibodies test

[Daisydoor12]

Apologies if there is another thread on this. Not long had phone call from my sister saying she had an antibodies test via bio diagnostics (bio card) which is suppose to test for the spike protein. She has had 2 doses of AZ vaccine the 2nd 4weeks ago but the test has come back negative for antibodies. She is obviously concerned. Is there anything she can do? How likely is it she does have antibodies?

Is she sure it was testing for vaccine induced antibodies, ie the S antibodies? There are different tests for antibodies acquired through infection and through vaccine.
How far apart were her doses?
I'm not familiar with the bio card test but I do a monthly test for Virus Watch.
I was negative for all antibodies 6 weeks after the first dose but positive at 10 weeks.
When I got the negative result I was quite alarmed as I'm clinically vulnerable and have auto immune disease. My doctors just shrugged and said it doesn't work for everyone but you might still have some protection. They didn't know really.

As far as I now her doses were 10weeks apart. The bio card tests for the IgG which is a spike protein.

These tests are worthless imo.

Your immune system is far more complex than an antibody count, and while antibodies may persist following a real infection. The situation is more variable following a vaccination.

Basically in response to an infection, or a vaccine, your body generates two classes of cells - B and T cells. Antibodies originate from B-cells, but they can either remain attached to the B-Cell, or be unattached in the blood plasma. (They detach when the B-cell binds to an antigen.) I'm not certain, but I suspect the tests can only pick up unattached antibodies.

Secondly, once an antigen is gone, B-cells transform into memory-B-cells which can hang around for years/decades even.

NB a very similar process exists with T-Cells.

So the absence of free antibodies doesn't mean diddly squat.

:)

My partner and I both use BioCard to check our antibodies. He's had Covid and has had his 1st jab. He only produced weak antibodies, which surprised me.

The test is specific for the spike protein antibodies. The guy who runs BioCard says that it varies widely between people as to how many antibodies they produce, and sometimes they don't at all, both after an infection and after the vaccine doses.

T cell immunity is also very important, arguably more so as it does the 'heavy lifting' if we get ill with Covid.

I don't think we should get too obsessed with antibody levels, but yes it is concerning that she hasn't produced any that show up. She may be one of the unfortunate people who just don't make them.

@strangeshapedpotato

These tests are worthless imo.

Your immune system is far more complex than an antibody count, and while antibodies may persist following a real infection. The situation is more variable following a vaccination.

Basically in response to an infection, or a vaccine, your body generates two classes of cells - B and T cells. Antibodies originate from B-cells, but they can either remain attached to the B-Cell, or be unattached in the blood plasma. (They detach when the B-cell binds to an antigen.) I'm not certain, but I suspect the tests can only pick up unattached antibodies.

Secondly, once an antigen is gone, B-cells transform into memory-B-cells which can hang around for years/decades even.

NB a very similar process exists with T-Cells.

So the absence of free antibodies doesn't mean diddly squat.

:)

whats the point of the test then

Thanks for replies. Does anyone know if there are potentially any more reliable antibody tests out there? My sister is such a worrier and suffers badly with mental health, I tried reassuring her but she’s now convinced she’s not protected and has threatened to not do things again.

BioCard is a reliable test. If your sister hasn't produced many or any antibodies it doesn't mean the vaccine hasn't worked. She may still have a good T cell response to it.

I signed up for an antibody study and get sent antibody tests every month. It’s through Virus Watch UCL.