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Original poster

COVID antibodies

51 replies

littlequestion · 20/06/2021 12:03

I had an antibody test (thanks to another thread on here). It came back positive.

The email said it's likely I had COVID in the last 6 months. I actually had symptoms 15 months ago, just before the first lockdown.

In the last 6 months I've been incredibly careful about meeting people (though kids were at school when it was open), had no symptoms and had my first jab early March. I've now had both.

My question is - is it likely I would still have had antibodies from an infection early last year or is it more likely I actually somehow caught it more recently?

OP posts:
LindaEllen · 07/07/2021 16:11

Are you vaccinated?

changingstages · 07/07/2021 16:23

it's so interesting - I did one a few weeks ago, no antibodies, but I'm almost as certain as I can be that I had Covid in April 2020. But the ONS antibody stats today say that 9 out of 10 people are estimated to have antibodies... it made me feel a bit nervous! (Though I am vaccinated so that's probably really daft.)

50but17inside · 07/07/2021 16:43

My adult children both caught COVID in Feb 2020 and lost taste/smell etc.

Private antibody tests showed them both with antibodies in May 2020. Antibody tests done again last week have shown them still both positive for antibodies so yes 16.5 months later still looking good

Abraxan · 07/07/2021 16:59

@WineGetsMeThroughIt

How does one go about getting an anti-body test?
You can apply via the government website for a free antibody test- tests for virus acquired antibodies, not those from the vaccines.

They are only testing eligible groups.

Everyone I know who has done one has ticked the 'Zoe research app' box, as they've all logged symptoms every so often via the Zoe app.

MrsFelicianoLopez · 07/07/2021 17:01

@Onandoff

It’s the original infection. Young people in particular hold onto antibodies quite nicely. I still have them 16 months on, get tested monthly at work.
I love this post, coz I am VERY middle-aged and I still have antibodies from infection earlier this year Grin

I read a news article about a village in northern Italy which was horrifically struck by Covid in Feb/March 2020, where something like 120 out of 180 residents still have antibodies over a year later, yay.

Onandoff · 08/07/2021 22:58

@MrsFelicianoLopez ha yes I too am middle aged (50) and I include us in younger people. Elderly people ie much older than us Grin typically will lose antibodies faster

Tiddleztheelephant · 08/07/2021 23:08

I've just had my results back and I have antibodies.
Obviously I could have had it in the last 6 months although I've had no obvious symptoms.
I strongly suspect I had it in March 2020....all the symptoms but very mild.
It would be great if this study helped them to understand how long antibodies last.

Flaxmeadow · 10/07/2021 10:32

Do you have some actual scientific evidence for this? Surely it’s perfectly possible for antibodies from the initial infection to still be present. They MAY wane, but I haven’t seen anything saying you will not have antibodies 6 months after infection?

It tells you in the antibody results text from the NHS.

MrsFelicianoLopez · 10/07/2021 11:51

@Onandoff Grin Ha I'm 49 Grin

PuzzledObserver · 10/07/2021 12:08

Does the results text say “You have definitely had Covid in the last 6 months…. and not a day longer”. Or does it say “you have probably had Covid in the last 6 months”.

Thing is - if someone has antibodies 12 months after a positive PCR and has been symptom free since and has not needed to do any lateral flows - how can they tell whether those antibodies are from the original infection or a subsequent asymptomatic one?

ISTR that the SIREN study showed a significant proportion of people still having antibodies after 8 months. Maybe they had all been infected again…. Or maybe some people keep antibodies for longer than others.

Also, think about what happens when you are exposed to Covid and you have antibodies. The antibodies get to work and clear the virus - you get few or no symptoms and the virus never replicates enough to be transmitted to anyone else. But as far as your immune system is concerned it has been reminded about Covid. So if there is a 6 month time limit, it would get reset at that point. So if you encounter Covid every now and then, your immune system would keep on being boosted.

Lindy2 · 10/07/2021 12:32

It says you are likely to have had Covid in the last 6 months.

I had Covid in January 2021 and I recently tested positive for antibodies.

PuzzledObserver · 10/07/2021 13:09

I supplied a blood sample a couple of days ago for the infection-type antibodies. I’ll be gutted if it’s negative as it is literally 27 weeks since I tested positive (New Year’s Eve)

hulahops · 11/07/2021 00:12

How long are they taking to come back? Sent mine off Wednesday and no news yet

Tiddleztheelephant · 11/07/2021 08:10

I put mine in the postbox Tuesday evening (next collection 9am Wednesday) and got a text on Thursday evening. My dad posted his on Monday and hasn't heard back yet.

Lindy2 · 11/07/2021 09:13

Mine took 2 or 3 days to get the result.

Everyone else seemed to be getting their results back in about 24 hours so I was starting to worry mine had got lost
(all that effort to get the sample!).

I think they say it can take upto 3 days.

TiddleTaddleTat · 11/07/2021 09:17

I'm about to do this test for the Zoe app. Similarly haven't had Covid symptoms since initial infection March 2020, although long covid so not clear when symptoms stopped really.
I think the study is investigating exactly this. I should imagine the evidence is being gathered to see just how long antibodies acquired from infection last. Covid is a novel virus.

hulahops · 11/07/2021 23:52

Still no news. I'll be gutted if they've lost mine. No way I'm getting stabbed with that lancet again

SoOvethis · 12/07/2021 06:55

Yes - have had 3 proper blood drawn antibody tests including a quantitative one end of May 2021, also had several of the finger prick ones. My levels are very high and I had covid March 2020. No vaccine yet.

PuzzledObserver · 14/07/2021 12:03

My result is back - positive, just over 6 months after positive PCR. I’m 57. Here’s the relevant bit from the email:

“Your result: SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus antibodies resulting from infection were detected in your blood sample.

This indicates that you are likely to have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the last 6 months (or perhaps even earlier). You may have had obvious symptoms of COVID-19 but it is also possible that you did not experience any symptoms at all.”

PS if I were doing this research I would have asked participants if they had had a positive PCR test and if so, when. Then they could plot a curve of what % of people still have antibodies against time since infection. I would have thought that would be v. useful for scoping the appropriate timing for boosters.

GiantToadstool · 14/07/2021 13:02

The zoe app did asked me when I have previously been tested and if it was positive.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 14/07/2021 13:04

PS if I were doing this research I would have asked participants if they had had a positive PCR test and if so, when. Then they could plot a curve of what % of people still have antibodies against time since infection. I would have thought that would be v. useful for scoping the appropriate timing for boosters

That's what they're doing with the ONS trial.

PuzzledObserver · 14/07/2021 17:30

Ah, mine was through UK BioBank. In 30 years they’ll be able to tell you whether people who die of x were more or less likely to have had Covid.

hollieberrie · 14/07/2021 17:42

@SoOvethis

Yes - have had 3 proper blood drawn antibody tests including a quantitative one end of May 2021, also had several of the finger prick ones. My levels are very high and I had covid March 2020. No vaccine yet.
@SoOvethis Do you mind if i ask where you got your quantative test? I really want one of these to help me decide whether or not to get my 2nd jab. Still suffering with a lot of long Covid symptoms so not keen to put my body through more stress if i have a high antibody count already. I also had it in March 2020.
SoOvethis · 14/07/2021 18:01

@hollieberrie
I remember you from the early Covid posts back then! Sorry to hear you are still suffering from long COVID. I had it until autumn last year but it has pretty much cleared up for me now. I only suffer with occasional exercise intolerance if I really overdo it - will then get gastro symptoms, extreme lethargy, brain fog for a few days after.

Re antibodies - I asked my private GP to request one and it was done through the Doctors Laboratory in London.

My level was around 750 with no vaccine.

hollieberrie · 14/07/2021 18:43

@SoOvethis Oh hi! So glad to hear you are doing better. Thats great news. Are you going to put off the vaccine for now and keep monitoring your antibody levels?
I am much improved in the last 6 months but ive still got a fair few issues (GERD, earaches, muscle pains, headaches) and the 1st vaccine definitely set me a back quite a bit.
Thanks for the info, I'm going to go to London to get one done so will check out Doctors Lab.

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