What is the Antibody Test for COVID-19?
At The Hormone Zone, we are offering Antibody Testing for COVID-19. This rapid test is a finger stick blood analysis done in our office and delivers results in about 10 minutes.
Antibody Testing gives information on who was ill in the past and who has recovered. With this test, one can learn if they have been exposed to the virus and produced protective antibodies that fought off the infection. Research shows that the antibodies used to combat COVID-19 could persist for years, making recovered people non-infectious and unable to become ill again.
The graph below displays the presence of two types of antibodies – IgM and IgG – that became persistent following SARS-CoV, which is the closest comparison we have currently for COVID-19. IgM represents the first responder antibodies and declined as the infection was neutralized. IgG remained throughout the study, meaning that these antibodies can persist for a long period of time and provide functional immunity for those who recovered.
At The Hormone Zone, we believe that Antibody Testing is part of the fight against COVID-19. Knowledge is power. Understanding if you have antibodies present helps you to understand your risk levels. It also helps to provide valuable information to the CDC about the health and wellbeing of our country.
If you have any questions on the COVID-19 Antibody Testing, call us at (480)338-8070.
Disclaimer: It is important to note that this COVID-19 Antibody Test does not diagnose the COVID-19 virus. The Antibodies test is a serology test which measures the amount of antibodies or proteins present in the blood when the body is responding to a specific infection. This test hasn’t been reviewed by the FDA. Negative results don’t rule out SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly in those who have been in contact with the virus. Follow-up testing with a molecular diagnostic should be considered to rule out infection in these individuals. Results from antibody testing shouldn’t be used as the sole basis to diagnose or exclude SARS-CoV-2 infection. Positive results may be due to past or present infection with non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus strains, such as coronavirus HKU1, NL63, OC43, or 229E. While the presence of antibodies doesn’t necessarily prevent future infections, they can reduce the severity of future infections of the current COVID-19 strain.
