Posted on 04/13/2020 3:41:20 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
* Public health officials are saying a large number of antibody tests could be available “within a period of a week or so.”
* Instead of detecting the virus itself, the tests identify antibodies the immune system generates to fight COVID-19.
* Data from antibody tests would show how many people have contracted the disease and recovered and also whether previously infected people would be vulnerable to reinfection.
As some Americans are coming up on a month under stay-at-home orders, many are wondering when life will go back to normal. And while things may never fully go back to how they were before the pandemic, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) and the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, has said he expects a “real degree of normality” by the November elections.
So how do we get there?
Antibody tests could be an initial step towards gathering enough information to determine how states can safely proceed with lifting their pandemic restrictions. These tests identify antibodies the immune system generates to fight COVID-19.
What's an antibody?
It's a protein in your bloodstream that your body produces to counteract bacteria, viruses and other foreign substances. The protein will attach onto the foreign particle, identifying it for your immune system to destroy. But in order for your body to create antibodies for a disease such as COVID-19, it has to have been exposed to it. This is also how vaccines work, by introducing a small enough dose of a weakened infectious disease to your body, so it can be prepared to fight them.
How does the test work?
A serology test will check for an immune response to the novel coronavirus using a blood sample. A rapid diagnostic test, which takes anywhere from 10-30 minutes,
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
MORE QUESTIONS
What does it mean if you test positive for COVID-19 antibodies?
Generally, when you test positive for an antibody, it means you’ve had it in your bloodstream, either by contracting the disease or through a vaccine. Since there are no COVID-19 vaccines currently approved for public use, testing positive would mean that you’ve contracted COVID-19, even if you never showed any symptoms or have recovered entirely.
Does that mean you’re immune to COVID-19?
Immunity means your body has enough antibodies to resist COVID-19 successfully, but there’s no magic number. Whether or not you’re immune will depend on a number of factors in addition to the test results, including how strong your antibodies are and the other parts to your immune system’s response.
How accurate is the test?
It may depend on which test you take. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only authorized one test under an Emergency Use Authorization, but has allowed some developers to start distributing their tests without review. There have also been reports in the United Kingdom of false positive and false negative results, suggesting there are still flaws with the tests that have been developed.
Will I have to pay for the test?
Health insurers will be required to cover the cost of these tests in addition to tests for current infection according to new guidelines announced by the federal government.
yeah. don’t hold your breath. antibody tests are notoriously inaccurate. i wouldn’t trust a result unless a top private reference lab has verified the vendor’s instrument/test (tested known pcr positives with duplicated results on the vendor’s instrument).
I just got tested for both antibodies and being currently infected today, and both were negative. This was using the rapid blood test (from Abbott, I think).
THIS JUST IN:
There appears to be a medical issue emerging-——cautioning on using ventilators that might permanently damage the lungs, leading to death.
Some are saying the virus patient needs to be simply oxygenated.
For example, virus sufferers have shortness of breath —– a sign of severe anemia; not having enough red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body.
As in malaria infection, this causes the destruction of red blood cells in the body, and also interferes with the body’s ability to make new red blood cells. So the body becomes starved of oxygen which can lead to death. Possibly why hydroxychloroquine is effective to treat the virus.
Zinc is emerging as a key component in combating the virus–b/c it strengthens your immune system.
Zinc is being used in the “cocktail” given to virus patients…….but zinc supplements are harmful ingested in large amounts.
Examples of foods high in zinc include:
oysters, 3 ounces (oz): 74 mg.
beef patty, 3 oz: 5.3 mg.
Alaska king crab, 3 oz: 6.5 mg.
fortified breakfast cereal, 3/4 cup serving: 3.8 mg.
cooked lobster, 3 oz: 3.4 mg.
cooked pork chop loin, 3 oz: 2.9 mg.
baked beans, 1/2 cup serving: 2.9 mg.
dark meat chicken, 3 oz: 2.4 mg.
…….dark chocolate……dark green leafy vegetables……and mushrooms
RE: Some are saying the virus patient needs to be simply oxygenated.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is out of the hospital and tested NEGATIVE for Covid-19 today. He was given Oxygen when he was on ICU.
Buy a study guide or check one out from your local library. Go through it thoroughly and answer the questions at the end of each chapter. That will help you pass the test.
I would love to be tested. I was sicker than I have ever been before in my life from mid-January into March. The first time at urgent care the doctor ran no tests, said it’s just the respiratory virus that’s going around. About a month later I was even worse and a CT scan revealed a lung infection and pleurisy.
I’m curious as to whether the initial virus was Covid 19 or not.
RE: About a month later I was even worse and a CT scan revealed a lung infection and pleurisy.
Sorry to hear that. But how did you get better?
Antibiotics for the infection and steroids for the pleurisy.
It probably wasn’t Covid 19 but I’ve never had a worse cold/respiratory illness in my life. I was miserable for a long time. So I keep thinking there’s a chance it was Covid 19.
This should be for research only. If we require workers have antibodies before they return to work, well workers will get COVID-19 on purpose.
Oh-and I’m sorry but I can’t remember the name of the antibiotic. I’m allergic to penicillins so the few times I’ve needed antibiotics, it’s not a familiar name.
RE: It probably wasn’t Covid 19 but I’ve never had a worse cold/respiratory illness in my life.
An antibody test would prove that. If you have the Covid antibodies, you probably had it and recovered.
Dr Z in New York says that it is like the lungs are filled with cement. If that is the case, no wonder a ventilator should not be used!
And the HCQ should be given early, asap.
Right......
So I heard.
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