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Original poster

Currently having covid now received positive anti gen test

27 replies

Welshlavalove · 09/11/2021 06:56

This means it’s likely you’ve had COVID-19 in the last 6 months. We detected antibodies that are made after an infection, and also antibodies that could have been caused by a vaccine.

I am currently self isolating as had positive pcr last week . I was sent an anti gen test by nhs and got this message earlier , I am a bit confused does it mean that that I must of had covid in past 6 months or as I am double jabbed less than 6 months ago I have the anti bodies , in which case why send it ?

OP posts:
Cookerhood · 09/11/2021 07:55

You mean antibody test, not antigen. It's means what it says, you've either had Covid or been vaccinated (or both, of course) its standard wording sent to everyone, including me.

Cookerhood · 09/11/2021 07:56

They sent it because you sent a sample. Some people won't have antibodies, so they are telling you that you do. I'm not really understanding you confusion.
Antibodies are what your body makes in response to a vaccine or illness. Antigen is part of the virus so detects a current infection.

LSLLM · 09/11/2021 08:10

It is what the message said. I don’t understand the confusion there. You’ve been vaccinated in the last 6 months so you won’t know whether you’ve had covid or not.

I don’t know why you have had the test - did you give a blood sample at some point? Are you on a trial?

Original poster
Welshlavalove · 09/11/2021 08:14

I had the test because after positive pcr nhs sent an email saying as I have covid they are sending me a blood test and will send another one in 3 weeks .

OP posts:
tiredoftiers · 09/11/2021 08:19

I’m waiting for my antibody test to come back after a positive PCR last week, and having had a booster dose of Pfizer at the start of October.
I expect my antibody test result will return the same result as yours. Antibodies from infection and antibodies from vaccination.
You did have antibodies from the vaccine but not enough/ effective enough to stop you getting covid infection but now you are now developing further antibodies.

Original poster
Welshlavalove · 09/11/2021 08:21

I am confused as they know I have covid and been double jabbed why are they sending me blood tests ?

OP posts:
Helspopje · 09/11/2021 08:22

Depends what test they sent
There’s an antibody test for post vacc (to the vacc components of the spike) and another for the native Covid (to another bit)
Not everyone who ‘sees’ Covid or is vaccinated makes abs but if you’re ab pos then you have ‘some’ immunity at present. Abs don’t just disappear after 3-6 months, they wane down slowly over time.

Incognito22333 · 09/11/2021 08:27

They are doing studies to understand reinfection rates and how well the vaccine works etc.
So you were double jabbed and are still Covid positive. If they also detected separate additional antibodies from infection you also previously had a Covid infection.
How sick are you?

PieMistee · 09/11/2021 08:29

They also are trying to work out if some people aren't forming antibodies and who they are.

Original poster
Welshlavalove · 09/11/2021 08:29

Incognito22333

I am not very sick , I just have a persistent headache and sometimes shivers and one day fever .

OP posts:
LIZS · 09/11/2021 08:30

If it is an antibody test they are checking levels while the infection is active add then how quickly it declines afterwards.

Cookerhood · 09/11/2021 08:30

@Welshlavalove

I am confused as they know I have covid and been double jabbed why are they sending me blood tests ?
It's just general surveillance to see if you have antibodies, as I said above some people don't make them, so it will give them information about how many don't. It can be paired up with your other records. The lab won't necessarily know that you've been vaccinated, they are just sending the result. What would be more helpful would be if they distinguished between antibodies to infection or vaccination. Why did you do the test if you didn't know what it was for or didn't agree with it?
Original poster
Welshlavalove · 09/11/2021 08:36

Cookerhood

I did the test as nhs asked me to . I don’t disagree with it was just unclear what result meant .

OP posts:
tiredoftiers · 09/11/2021 08:38

I think they do distinguish. I had an antibody test in July that was looking only for antibodies from infection, it was negative. I sent one off yesterday having tested positive by PCR at the end of last week. I expect it to show vaccine antibodies and infection ones, and for the result to state that.

Cookerhood · 09/11/2021 08:40

@tiredoftiers

I think they do distinguish. I had an antibody test in July that was looking only for antibodies from infection, it was negative. I sent one off yesterday having tested positive by PCR at the end of last week. I expect it to show vaccine antibodies and infection ones, and for the result to state that.
Not any more, it just gives you the message the OP quoted above. I got it done for that reason - I knew I'd been vaccinated but wondered if I'd had it as well, but I was none the wiser.
Cookerhood · 09/11/2021 08:42

The attached is what I received

Currently having covid now received positive anti gen test
LynetteScavo · 09/11/2021 08:57

I did the antibody test a few weeks ago - it said I had antibodies (presumably from the vaccine) and then I caught Covid.

I think antibody test is more for the government to know if the general population has antibodies, rather for us to know.

AFewSandwichesShortOfAPicnic · 09/11/2021 09:45

@LSLLM

It is what the message said. I don’t understand the confusion there. You’ve been vaccinated in the last 6 months so you won’t know whether you’ve had covid or not.

I don’t know why you have had the test - did you give a blood sample at some point? Are you on a trial?

I had to recently do a PCR and at the point of booking I was asked if I'd be willing to do the antibody test if I had a positive Pcr result.
JanglyBeads · 09/11/2021 09:56

The antibodies from being vaccinated are different from those from having been infected with Covid-19. The tests they are sending out are to look for antibodies from past (not current) infection.

A lack of antibodies doesn’t prove you haven’t had Covid-19 recently either.

It is a bit confusing!

Cookerhood · 09/11/2021 10:12

The tests they are sending out are to look for antibodies from past (not current) infection.
Or vaccination, or if you haven't got antibodies the first time you test, whether you do the second time. It's just for the stats folk really.

JanglyBeads · 09/11/2021 10:33

Sorry cooker hood I misread the screenshot you posted. Am now further confused then! I thought it had to be separate tests for the two different types of antibodies.

Cookerhood · 09/11/2021 10:46

@JanglyBeads

Sorry cooker hood I misread the screenshot you posted. Am now further confused then! I thought it had to be separate tests for the two different types of antibodies.
I know, it is confusing. Presumably they are now using a test which detects either/or, but doesn't tell you which? No idea
Bleddyansum · 09/11/2021 18:58

Research - they know you have COVID, and know you have been double jabbed.

There have been tests around for a while which give results of both natural and vaccine related immunity.

Having another test in 3 weeks then means they can then compare your levels. Gives a better overall picture of vaccine v natural immunity.

Good to see you’re not feeling too bad.

Maidofdishonour · 10/11/2021 21:15

How long did it take for your antibody results to come back? I sent mine off a week ago and haven’t heard anything. Was I supposed to register it online or something?