Antibody testing, also known as serology testing, is often performed after a patient has recovered completely from COVID-19. A healthcare practitioner obtains a blood sample, who often pricks the patient’s finger or draws blood from an arm vein. The sample is then examined to check whether you have produced antibodies to the virus. These antibodies are produced by the immune system and are essential in the fight against and elimination of the virus.
If your test results indicate that you have antibodies to COVID-19, the evidence suggests that you were previously infected with the virus. Furthermore, it may imply that you have some immunity. However, there is no indication that having antibodies protects against COVID-19 viral re-infection. The accuracy of the result is affected by the time and kind of antibody test used. Antibodies may be overlooked if tests are performed too early in an illness while your body’s immune response is still growing. Thus, antibody testing should not be conducted until at least 14 days following the beginning of symptoms.
Given that positive antigen tests are typically thought to be fairly reliable when performed, they may be useful for quickly identifying highly infectious persons within a group. However, it is crucial to remember that antigen test performance may be inadequate in areas with low disease frequency. Because of the higher chance of positive antigen testing in people with a high viral load, it may be possible to prevent super-spreader events or epidemics by recognizing and isolating these people as soon as they are discovered. Furthermore, owing to their speed and the fact that they need less costly equipment and reagents, they are well suited for point-of-care testing. If this is achieved, it may be possible to lessen the testing load on labs while still providing speedy findings at the testing site.
The most often necessary travel COVID test is the rapid antigen test for travel. COVID-19 testing must be conducted 72 to 96 hours before departure, depending on the airline and traveller’s location. Keep in mind that limitations are subject to vary depending on local conditions. As a result, as your departure date neared, it would be helpful to check back often for updates. Individuals returning to England after a foreign vacation, for example, must undertake COVID-19 post-travel testing before admission, and a day 2 and 8 test may be necessary.
Below is an infographic from Harley Medic International entitled “Serology Testing for COVID-19: What to Know.”
