Antibody Detection for COVID-19 Disease

This test shows a possible previous SARS-CoV-2 infection in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. For those who have been vaccinated, it provides a clear picture of whether or not immunity is been developed in their body.

The antibody test is suitable for people who haven’t displayed symptoms for the last ten days at least and who meet one of the following criteria:

• Have been previously diagnosed with COVID-19
• They were a suspicious incident for COVID-19
• There is a possibility of previous exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus
• They have been vaccinated

For the antibody test of the COVID-19 disease blood test (blood sampling) is required.

Important information for the COVID-19 antibody testing.

This test is specifically designed to detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Antibodies are proteins produced by our body’s immune system in response to a pathogen attack, regardless of whether or not there are symptoms during the infection.

For the development and detection of antibodies, a specific amount of time must pass after the infection, usually two to three weeks, while their presence in the body lasts for a long time after the recession of the infection and after the pathogen that caused it, in this case SARS-CoV-2, is no longer detectable by laboratory methods.

To date, it is not entirely known whether the presence of antibodies in the body can prevent a new SARS-CoV-2 infection.

In general, antibodies that are developed in response to an infection protect the body from being infected by the same pathogen. In this disease, however, it is not known yet if this is true. Therefore, strict adherence to all preventive measures and protection is imperative to avoid recurrence or transmission.

The antibody test does not detect the active infection. In order to test for active infection New Coronavirus Molecular Detection (SARS-CoV-2 PCR) is been performed.

A negative antibody test means that:

• There has been no previous SARS-CoV-2 infection
• There has been a previous SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, but the antibodies have not reached a sufficient level in order to be detectable.
• There has been a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, but there was not enough time for antibodies to be developed (it may take 1 to 3 weeks for antibodies to develop after infection, sometimes even longer).

A positive antibody test means that:

• You may had a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection at some point in the past or after being vaccinated
• Antibodies may have been developed after a previous infection with a different virus related to SARS-CoV-2 and the laboratory test cannot distinguish between antibodies of the other virus and those elicited in response to SARS-CoV-2, which occurs in a few cases.