COVID-19 ANTIBODY TEST
Near Me in Maine

When is antibody testing done, and why is it important?

Antibodies can be detected in your blood via an antibody test, commonly known as a serology test. Antibodies are produced in the body in response to diseases such as COVID-19 or immunizations.

THE COVID-19 antibody test is also known as the SARS-CoV-2 antibody test, according to the FDA. COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This antibody test can determine whether you have antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in your blood. According to the FDA, if you do, you have either been infected with COVID-19 or have recovered from it.

The COVID antibody test, according to the CDC, can indicate how well your immune system defends itself against the virus. It goes on to say that this test can also assist you with comprehending population-level protection.

According to the CDC, the major reason for antibody testing is to see if you have COVID-19 antibodies in your blood and have had a previous infection. The CDC warns that this test should not be used instead of viral COVID testing to detect if you have a current infection or if you are immune to SARS-CoV-2 after receiving the COVID vaccine.

What tests are used to diagnose COVID-19?

A viral test can be used to diagnose COVID-19. A viral test can also be used to establish whether you are currently infected with SARS-CoV-2, according to the CDC.

A healthcare expert will take a sample from your nose or mouth during the viral test. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or an antigen test is used to assess your sample.

PCR

According to the National Institutes of Health, a PCR test works by detecting the DNA or RNA of a pathogen or aberrant cells in a sample (NIH). According to the NIH, most viruses, including COVID-19, contain DNA or RNA.

A PCR test can diagnose COVID in its early stages, according to the CDC. According to the CDC, the results of these lab tests normally arrive within a few days.

Antigen

According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an antigen test works by looking for SARS-CoV-2 molecules on the virus surface. According to the CDC, these fast tests provide answers in a matter of minutes and can be done at home by a healthcare worker or by yourself. Solv has a directory that can help you discover COVID testing in your area.

What is the difference between these tests and antibody tests?

According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an antigen test works by looking for SARS-CoV-2 molecules on the virus surface. According to the CDC, these fast tests provide answers in a matter of minutes and can be done at home by a healthcare worker or by yourself. Solv has a directory that can help you discover COVID testing in your area.

What will the COVID-19 antibody test results tell me?

According to the FDA, positive results from a COVID antibody test suggest that you have had a previous SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 infection.

Antibodies to COVID were not discovered in your blood if you had a negative COVID antibody test. A negative result, according to the FDA, could indicate that you have had a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection but your body has not yet produced antibodies, or that the level of antibodies produced by your body is too low to be detected by the test.

Other antibody tests

According to the National Institutes of Health, antibody tests can also be used to screen for antibodies to other disorders. Measles, mumps, hepatitis, mononucleosis, and varicella-zoster virus are among these disorders.

Antibody testing for these diseases may be recommended by your doctor to evaluate whether you are up to date on vaccines and require boosters, or to detect an autoimmune disease such as lupus. Antibody testing are occasionally required for school or work, according to the National Institutes of Health.