Antibodies - what do they do?

[troper]

So really daft question probably......

Do antibodies reduce the chains of you getting the virus?
Do they potentially reduce the severity of illness?
Or is it both?

I know I've got antibodies (confirmed via a test) but been a close contact and wondering if it's likely I have it or not

• reduce the chance

Your body produces antibodies in response to the virus. It means you had covid at some point, whether you realised it or not.
The purpose of antibodies are for helping fight the infection if your body encounters the virus again in the near future. They're part of your immune response.

That's the very simplified version anyway!

Thanks! But does my body fight it so that I'm less likely to catch it (ie have a positive test) or do they only kick in once I already have it (confirmed by a test)?

Antibodies dont stop you being infected in the first place. You can still catch it, ie the virus enters your body. But your antibodies will bind to the virus and stop it replicating and destroy it before it has time to make you have symptoms and be ill. Or at least less seriously, because the antibodies will slow down the virus. You could still test positive.

You are less likely to catch it.

@JessieCaroline

Antibodies dont stop you being infected in the first place. You can still catch it, ie the virus enters your body. But your antibodies will bind to the virus and stop it replicating and destroy it before it has time to make you have symptoms and be ill. Or at least less seriously, because the antibodies will slow down the virus. You could still test positive.

This. They won't stop you from actually getting it. But they'll help fight it if you do.

So you are less likely to get it, but it is possible . You do need to test if you are a contact. Hopefully you won’t get it though.

Thanks everyone! Had my PCR and waiting results (negative lft but been a close contact) - obviously if it's positive I'll be isolating over Xmas day so just wondering what my chances are. I know nobody knows and there are no crystal balls etc so I won't know til I get the results. I've gone to assuming it'll def be positive to having a small glimmer of hope 🤞🏼