Are coronavirus antibody tests a big problem? What to know about promising serology tests

As some areas of the country begin to ease the social restrictions established in response to the coronavirus pandemic, antibody testing is being promoted as a crucial step towards end of social distancing and the reopening of the economy While we wait for a vaccine. And when you talk about antibody tests, you might also hear something about “antigen tests” and “serology,” each of which inspires hope for rapid back to normal. Add blood tests, nose smear tests, test drive sites and home test kits to the conversation and all of a sudden what evidence reveals what and what the results mean is a complete blur.

Antibody tests have come to attention lately because they are designed to show if you have ever had COVID-19, even if you never had any symptoms or if you knew you were infected. If it turns out that you were, you could now be immune to the coronavirus and possibly be around others without spreading the virus.

But the question of what antibody tests can and cannot do, whether they are reliable enough to tell us something useful, and where and how they can take the tests are causing a lot of confusion and debate. This is what we know (and don’t know) so far.

One more note: This article is intended as a resource to help you understand the current tests for coronaviruses submitted by organizations such as the US Food and Drug Administration. USA And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is not intended to serve as medical advice. If you are looking for more information on coronavirus testing, here we show you how to find a test site near you (here it is another way for Apple Maps users). Here it is How to know if you qualify for an exam and why there are no home coronavirus test kits still. This story is updated frequently as new information comes to light.

What is the coronavirus antibody test?

An antibody test is a type of medical test that could help doctors determine if you have ever been infected with the coronavirus, regardless of whether you ever felt sick or not. This is important because many of those who contract the disease are asymptomatic.

However, antibody tests do not reveal whether you are at present infected with the virus, nor does it indicate if you have recovered from it if you had it. The test only shows if you ever had the virus or not, nothing more and nothing less.

Why is antibody testing so important?

A positive antibody test result generally means that you are immune to the disease being tested. Although researchers still don’t know enough about COVID-19 to be able to say for sure whether you will be immune, the hope is that people who have recovered from the disease will not be able to contract it again, or so it matters, infect others.

If that is the case, once a sufficiently high percentage of the population has developed immunity to the coronavirus, a form of indirect protection called “group immunity“It could protect those who have not yet been exposed to the disease and help herald the end of the pandemic.

Can antibody tests tell if you are immune to the coronavirus?

With other coronavirus diseases, such as SARS and MERS, a positive antibody test generally indicates some degree of immunity. However, the World Health Organization warned that scientists still don’t know enough about this new coronavirus, which is technically called SARS-CoV-2 – to be able to say one way or another. They are working on solving it.

How does the antibody test work?

Antibody tests look for proteins in the blood, called antibodies, that remain after your body fights disease. When your immune system detects a new infection, your body begins making antibodies, which it then trains to fight that specific invader. These antibodies uncover the invader’s weaknesses, then neutralize, destroy, and ultimately eliminate it from your body.

Once it disappears, your body continues to make antibodies in the event that it returns. That’s what coronavirus antibody testing is looking for: the leftover antibodies your immune system produced to fight the coronavirus.

Where can I get a coronavirus antibody test?

For now, you’ll need to start by talking to your doctor or other licensed healthcare professional to order lab tests. The guidelines vary by provider and state, but generally must have been asymptomatic for one to two weeks (including the day of the test).

Until this week, antibody tests have not been widely available in the US. In the USA, priority has been given to health professionals and first responders. But beginning April 27, you can get an FDA-cleared test for coronavirus antibodies at LabCorp facilities or at doctor’s offices and healthcare facilities with a LabCorp technician (there are thousands across the country) .

At this time, only the LabCorp test and three other antibody test kits have been cleared by the FDA under a rule that allows the use of medical devices during a public health emergency prior to FDA review. Under a similar emergency policy, the FDA also allows the use of test kits from nearly 100 other manufacturers, but some experts caution that such tests should not be relied upon until they have been further examined.

What is an antigen?

An antigen is a substance that generally comes from your environment and makes you sick when it enters your body. Common antigens include bacteria and viruses. Antigens activate your immune system to produce antibodies, which defend themselves.

Antigens can enter your system in the same way that you bring the substances you need to survive in your body. You can inhale airborne antigens into your lungs when you breathe, for example. Or you can bring antigens to your mouth when, for example, you pick up an infectious substance like coronavirus from a surface with your hands and then touch your face.

Antigens can also enter your body through the ears, eyes, and nose. Rarely, but occasionally, you can absorb them through your skin.

How is the antigen test different from the antibody test?

An antigen test is done to see if you currently have the disease by searching for exclusive genetic information on a particular virus or bacteria. It tells the doctors if you are at present infected or not, but not if you have been infected in the past and have since recovered.

In contrast, an antibody test only shows whether or not you have had the disease in the past. Antibodies can take up to two weeks to detect in the blood, usually long after the virus has been defeated and an antigen test is negative.

What is serology or a serology test?

Serology refers to the study of blood serum, and the vast majority of serological tests are performed to detect antibodies. You can also analyze other body fluids, such as saliva, but that is because they contain trace elements of blood, which is what is really being analyzed.

Serology tests can also determine blood type by donating blood or receiving a transfusion. They can be used to measure the levels of pharmaceuticals present in the bloodstream, for example, during a drug trial. But most of the time, when experts use the phrase “serology” or “serology test,” they are talking about antibody tests.

Although increasing antibody testing can help speed up the end of the block, it is not the only thing that can speed up the return to normal. Here is a look at what should happen before shelter-in-place requests begin to rise in the US USA If you or someone in your household contracts COVID-19, These are the steps you should follow to prevent further spread of the virus. And here it is what to do to stay safe when you have no choice but to venture out in public.