The covid pandemic scare has confused several people about how the testing is conducted to tell if you had coronavirus recently because the varying tests are conducted differently. The antibody testing is typically done to determine if you were infected by the virus in the past and have now developed coronavirus antibodies. A test used to diagnose covid is typically conducted to determine if the virus currently infects you. Suppose you want to know how these tests conduct; then keep reading.
What Coronavirus Antibodies Tests Need?
- Coronavirus antibody tests can be conducted in the comfort of your home.
- The test kit will be sent to you via the post, and you must follow a few simple instructions carefully.
- After reading the instructions, you will use a lancet tool to prick your fingertip and draw blood samples by squeezing some blood into a tube.
- If you are nervous about performing these tests independently, you can ask someone to help you perform them. That is, if you are not in self-isolation.
- After you are done, you will have to require the post-test in the royal mail priority to post these tests.
How do Antibody Tests work?
During these tests, the technician will take some bits of blood drawn from the sample. The tests will help detect both the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes covid pandemic and the antibodies, which are the proteins used to fight the coronavirus infection. There are two types of coronavirus antibodies, and these are;
- IgM antibodies happen early in the infection.
- IgG infection, which shows up later once the virus has infected you.
Most people who are in infection by the virus mostly end up with IgG antibodies. This typically happens 14 days after you have been in infection and the symptoms show. Typically, the antibodies show in the blood for a while, but the new virus does not know how long they will stay in the blood. A small blood sample will need to conduct an antibody test for the new virus. To get the samples, the provider needs to;
- Wipe the skin to clean it
- Get your vein swell up by tying an elastic band above the area
- Then inject the needle into the vein, typically the back of your hand or the arm inside the elbow.
- The elastic-plastic band gets remove, and the needle must pull out of your vein.
You can sometimes use a fingerstick to perform these tests. The doctor will clean your skin and prick your finger with a lancet or a small needle to collect your blood.
When to Perform an Antibody Test and When It Requires to do so?
Coronavirus antibody testing refers to as serology testing. The test is ready once you recover from the virus. Based on the availability of test kits, the eligibility will vary. A healthcare professional pricks your fingertip to draw a small blood sample from your arm or your veins. Your sample will undergo a test to determine if you consist of developing antibodies that will help in fighting against the virus. Your immune system typically creates antibodies. These are proteins that help in combating the virus and clearing it out.
Suppose the tests show that at some point, you have coronavirus antibodies. It shows that at some point, you had covid and have developed immunity against the virus. But there is not enough evidence to show that having the antibodies will help prevent you from catching the virus again. We also have no clear information on how long the immunity lasts in the blood. But hopefully, the ongoing research will reveal this. When performing these tests, the type of the test and timing will affect the accuracy.
Final Thought
Determining whether or not you have coronavirus antibodies is critical. This is because it will help you determine if you have developed immunity even though we cannot tell how long they last. The tests also allow you to donate plasma and save those with a weak immune system. But you need to note some differences between coronavirus diagnostic tests and antibody tests. The outcome from an antibody test takes ten minutes to complete.