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Sorry to nitpick, but this one looks like no more than Chinese BS designed to calm the masses. It's an interesting attempt by the Chicoms to make themselves look good, but does not represent any medically useful new information.

Rather than just yell BS! and move on, I included the rest of this post is to explain why I think this.

Antibodies are specifically shaped protein molecules, unique to the disease they were created by the body to fight. They are referred to as "immunoglobulins" (hence the "Ig" in the terminology used to classify them). The five general classes are IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, and IgE. IgG is the most common, usually about 80% of the total.

The body creates a unique immunoglobulin protein shape to fight each specific disease it comes in contact with. Although these proteins are unique to the disease being fought, they have similarities that allow them to be grouped together into the above classifications.

In other words, we ALL have IgG and IgM antibodies, whether we have SARS or not. The only significant issue is what specific antibodies SARS makes, and how long it takes for them to be present in enough numbers for us to detect them.

SARS has long been known to trigger an immune response within the IgM class of antibodies. Since the IgM class is usually at a relatively low level, an elevated IgM sticks out like a sore thumb. We have had tests that will easily spot an elevated IgM for a long time.

The problem is that SARS does not seem to elevate antibody levels early in the course of the disease. That is why we still do not have a reliable blood test to confirm a diagnosis of SARS until a person has been symptomatic for several days.

In other words, nothing in this article indicates the Chinese are on to anything new. However, it sounds good and may help the Chicoms look good to their people.

Since you were the other two posters on this thread, I meant to address you two (as well as riri) when I posted #10.

Sorry to nitpick, but this one looks like no more than Chinese BS designed to calm the masses.

Probably true. I am willing to bet the farm that China will erdicate SARS rather quickly. Either they do have the anti-bodies and have had them all along.....or.....they will line up their SARS patients and treat the infection with AK-47's.