Researchers who sent home finger-prick tests to more than 365,000 randomly selected individuals in the UK found a 3% reduction in Covid-1 antibodies in just three months.
“We note a significant reduction in the proportion of the population with detectable antibodies in three rounds of national surveillance using self-administered lateral flow tests 12, 18 and 24 weeks after the first peak of infection in England,” the team wrote. In a pre-printed version of their report published before the peer review.
“This is consistent with the evidence that immunity to seasonal coronavirus decreased in the 6 to 12 months after infection and also in the data filling on SARS-CoV-2, which led to a decrease in antibody levels in individuals following a lengthy study.”
The research was published on Monday by Imperial College London and market research firm Ipsos Mori. At the start of the study, in June, 6% of those who tested tested positive for IgG antibodies against coronavirus, they said. As of September, only 4.4% of them did. For health care workers, rates remained almost the same.
The results also confirm previous studies showing that people who do not have symptoms of Covid-19 will lose detectable antibodies sooner than those who are more seriously infected.
The researchers found that younger people who recovered from Kovid-19 had a slower decrease in antibodies, compared to people over the age of 75 who survived the infection.
Some infections, such as measles, are caused by what is known as immunodeficiency. Infected people once have antibodies that can be detected for many years after infection.
There are limitations to the study. These samples were not taken frequently and from the same people, but were taken from different people over time. People who are exposed to coronavirus are less likely to participate over time, the researchers said.
“We don’t yet know if this will put these people at risk of re-infection with the virus that causes COVID-19, but it is important that everyone follows the guidelines to reduce the risk to themselves and others,” Ward added. Did.
The UK’s health minister, Lord James Bethel, called the study a “crucial piece of research” that could help the British government figure out how to take appropriate action to control the spread of Covid-19.
“It’s also important that everyone knows what this means for them – this study will help our fight against the virus, but a positive test for antibodies doesn’t mean you’re immune to Covid-19,” Bethel said in a news release. “Regardless of the outcome of the antibody test, everyone should continue to follow government guidelines, including social distance, self-isolation and getting tested if you have symptoms and always remember hands, face, scope.”
Dr. who specializes in pediatric infectious diseases at the University Hospitals Spitals in Cleveland. Claudia Hoyne thought the study was interesting and encouraging, as it suggests that at least where antibodies are concerned, the coronavirus acts like any other coronavirus. Like colds, antibodies are low and people can get colds more than once. Like colds, people with strong immune systems, usually younger ones, usually do not see a rapid decline in antibodies like older people with immune systems.
“This study is really like the first part of a puzzle that really gives us an indication that, yes, these antibodies don’t seem to stick to everyone,” Hoyen said. “At least in this case, the virus is kind of behaving like we can guess, which is a good thing because all the things about this virus are off the wall.” Hoyen said the study “also cementes the fact that we’ll be in the mask for a while.”
“I know we all hope this will end soon, but I don’t think it will,” he said.
“I think the sooner we resolve ourselves to the fact that we have to do this to get through this, the more we can accept it and move on. These data clearly show that your antibodies are gone. Once it is obtained, it does not give you immunity and it also means that you may become infected again. “
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