Most people like you might not have proper clarity on the working and objective of antibody testing. This is an important screening that determines the presence of antibodies in the blood. In this pandemic era, more and more people are undergoing this test to check whether they have had a past infection. However, the purpose of this test is to check whether the immune system has produced antibodies or not. These are the proteins that act as saviors against the virus infection. The body develops these proteins while fighting against the virus-like covid-19. The antibody formation mainly takes place after getting a vaccination and flu shots. However, some people have natural immune power to combat the virus in their bodies.
What is an antibody test actually?
This test is also referred to as serology testing. It is not specifically designed to check for virus contamination in the body. But it looks for whether your immune system has produced enough antibodies. The antibodies form in response to the infection to kill the virus. You can say that this test is intended to check coronavirus antibodies. When you get an infection from covid, the formation of antibodies will kill the virus to protect you. The test will check and confirm if you have had an infection of covid in the past or not. It will check whether your body had a protective shield against the virus when it confronted your body. Keep in mind that this test cannot state whether you are presently infested by the covid virus. For this purpose, you have to get diagnosis testing which works with sample collection from your nose and mouth.
Know the primary working of serology test
The working principle of this test is different from the standardized covid testing system. Instead of using a cotton swab to collect saliva from the mouth or nose, this test collects the blood sample. A technician will prick your finger to abstract the blood for sample collection. The sample is then sent to the laboratory to check under the microscope. It can produce results by detecting two primary types of antibodies.
IgM antibodies
These antibodies usually form in the body during early virus contamination. But the development of these antibodies is rare in most cases. This test can detect whether your immune system produces these antibodies during early infection.
IgG antibodies
The formation of these antibodies can occur later once you are infected with the virus. These antibodies might take 14 days period to develop in the body. However, it is hard to say how long they stay in the blood. But can be found in the blood even after the infection goes away.
Is there any difference between antibody testing and corona testing?
Yes! These are the different tests that are performed by medical professionals only. Covid test is sometimes referred to as diagnostic testing. It identified the signs of active covid contamination in the body. The process is faster as you have to give a saliva sample from the mouth and nose. The use of cotton swabs is included in this test to confirm virus presence in the respiratory system. It is performed using PCR and Antigen testing. It is mainly focused to know whether your body has coronavirus antibodies at the time of infection. But it cannot tell that you are now infected with an active virus infection. On the contrary, an antibody test is performed to know that you had a covid infection in the past that is gone away.
Does the antibody test have any importance?
There is enough research required to know the exact causes of coronavirus infection among humans. But this test can help the medical experts to know how covid vaccine is effective? They can know how the virus makes people sick and how their bodies respond to the contamination. However, the test cannot detect any early signs of the virus nor can tell the exact condition. But it can help people to know that they have a protective shield against the virus. In addition, this test can also tell someone if they can donate plasma to an infected person. There is a hope that people with coronavirus antibodies are safer and can restore health.
Is the antibody test accurate?
This test can derive accurate results if performed after developing the covid symptoms. Getting early testing for antibodies might not show any development of proteins. So, the accuracy of this test mainly depends upon the time period that has begun with covid infection. You can get this test done by visiting an urgent care clinic.
To sum up
The antibody testing will show positive results for antibodies if you have received the covid vaccine. This test can detect if your body has developed enough resistance against the virus. However, it does not mean that you cannot get the infection again. But the test can help you to know that you have a previous infection that is cured by antibodies. So, you can get preventive measures to shield yourself against the coronavirus.
