Anyone else had the antibody tests after Covid ?

[hopjumpskipplop]

Myself and DH have had Covid ( both double jabbed.) I took an antibody test as offered when taking the PCR. It says I have antibodies that would of been from being jabbed not the recent infection. I suffered 3-4 days of being quite unwell, hot, cold, aches, painful joints, bad headaches with the Covid. Feel run down now and still headaches. I'm generally an active fit well 40 year old.

Anyone else taken it?

DH actually took an antibody test that was offered last year as part of a study and had no antibodies then.

If you have the opportunity take it.
I don't know why we not doing more antibody testing to check the vaccines are working.
Although antibodies seem to be quite a individual thing.

I was offered one during the summer as I’d used the Zoe app.

It was a blood test and showed antibodies but not from being double jabbed. I’d definitely not been ill in the previous 6 months but had Covid right at the start of the pandemic.

I ordered one yesterday on behalf of Zoe. It should be testing for infection I believe, not the vaccine.

Is it best to wait until 2 weeks post infection then for antibodies to show ?

@littlestmunchkin

Is it best to wait until 2 weeks post infection then for antibodies to show ?

When you test positive you can opt in to the antibody tests. You get sent them on day 3 after you test and I think day 10 (I can't remember!). I've done the first one.

Yes if via the NHS PCR testing then the test arrived day 3, but I didn't do it until day 5 as feeling too rough to go to the postbox .. it was exciting to be allowed out of isolation for a trip to a priority post box 😂 As my message says they aren't testing for current infection but to see if you have antibodies from before it.

Mine is Zoe and I'm interested as both myself and dd were unwell but she tested positive and i negative. So sounds like I might need to wait until I'm 2 weeks post the end of the isolation period to give the antibodies a chance to form?

My school offered staff the chance to be tested and I took part 3 times over a few months.
Amazingly each test showed I had no antibodies. I've worked all through the pandemic, in an area of very high covid rates, in a overcrowded classroom, I just presumed I must have had!

@littlestmunchkin have you been jabbed ? Because the test won't differentiate between the jab produced antibodies and being exposed to airborne virus. It maybe they can tell if it's a variant, but not telling us, or maybe not?

@brittleheadgirl amazing really, I can't believe people can really suffer asymptotic Covid, they maybe don't have symptoms when they test positive, but with children I think they don't always say how they feel. The day my DS tested positive he was without symptoms, just saying he was tired but had had a positive lat flow , but the symptoms came on later, fever, coughing ( but not loads) lethargic. He had a very red eye too.

I digress, I just feel if you had had Covid, you would know it even as jabbed it was rough for me.

@littlestmunchkin

I ordered one yesterday on behalf of Zoe. It should be testing for infection I believe, not the vaccine.

I ordered one as invited by the Zoe app. I had assumed they were only testing just for infection so when I got the results text I thought it was all a bit of a waste of time really.

My antibody test is on its way as I tested +ve on Sunday. My dh currently -be so he can do the postbox run - I’m too I’ll to get up.
I had an antibody test a few months ago through the Zoe app. Despite being double jabbed it was negative so I think they may have been testing for prior infection rather than jab antibodies.

@Bimblesalong well that will be interesting then to see if you have developed any really quickly from this infection , probably not then ?? I must admit I don't really understand it all, but it's interesting. Please post your results and hope you start feeling better soon

Thanks @hopjumpskipplop will do. A medic friend has explained that the infection antibodies differ from jab anti bodies. The antibody tests can differentiate according to what they’re looking at. Interesting stuff.
I’m hoping it has primed other aspects of my immune system as I’d really like to get back to theatres etc, which I had avoided. However, I will continue to be super careful. My child brought it into my house and I seem to have a heavy viral load.

A medic friend has explained that the infection antibodies differ from jab anti bodies. The antibody tests can differentiate according to what they’re looking at

This was my understanding which is why I am so disappointed with the text results.

I got this 4 months after having diagnosed covid and 4 weeks after my second vaccine. I did another one in July and that indicated the same results. I've had more tests as part of a trial and have no T cell immunity or antibodies formed after 2 doses of the vaccine. I had my third 2 weeks ago im hoping it makes some sort of difference

I do have Crohn's disease and I am on immunosuppressants but they're very shocked at my complete lack of response because I've been unwell after each vaccine

@HazelandChacha oh bloody hell I won't bother then! Haven't opened it yet, will have a read at some point . How recently did you do yours ?

@hopjumpskipplop yes I'm jabbed . I read somewhere the Zoe one tested for infection hence why I was interested as I'm sure I had it when dd did. And now really breathless so could do with some certainty. If it carries on I'll have to try and find a private one I guess .

I’ve done a few, the Zoe one used to only test for antibodies from infection. I did one and was negative for antibodies. I then did another and low and behold it had changed to look for any antibodies, came back positive (post vaccine). I’ve now got covid and been sent another one to do. Might not bother as I know I have antibodies from both now so not really sure what the point is other than to comfort folk the vaccine has worked?

Unless this is what they use to determine the actual antibody levels and track vaccine drop off - but only give us a true/false answer