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Covid-19 Antibody Test

With results in only 15 minutes, the COVID-19 Antibody Test is a finger prick test which identifies if the body has developed an antibody response to a COVID-19 infection.

It is not a viral test to identify if you currently have COVID-19. A positive COVID-19 Antibody test means that you previously had or have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 and that your immune system developed antibodies in response to it. The test is highly sensitive and specific detecting IgG and IgM antibodies however no test can be 100% accurate. The antibodies can be detected within 1-3 weeks after exposure to COVID 19.

Performance Characteristics
IgM Antibody:

87.9% Sensitivity: this means that among 1,000 people who have had coronavirus, 879 of them will correctly test positive. 100% Specificity: this means that among 1,000 people who have not had coronavirus, 1,000 of them will correctly test negative.

IgG Antibody:

97.2% Sensitivity: this means that among 1,000 people who have had coronavirus, almost 972 of them will correctly test positive. 100% Specificity: this means that among 1,000 people who have not had coronavirus, 1,000 of them will correctly test negative.

Result Interpretation

A negative COVID-19 antibody test means that your immune system has not developed antibodies in response to the virus that causes COVID-19. This could be for a few reasons:

You haven’t been exposed to COVID-19 (true negative result)

You have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus, but your immune system hasn’t produced antibodies in response to the virus (false negative result) this can happen because

The test was performed too soon after the onset of the infection (antibodies are produced within 1-3 weeks)

Your immune system responded to COVID-19 without producing antibodies

A positive COVID-19 antibody result means that you have previously had or have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 and that your immune system developed antibodies in response to it.

Positive antibody result does NOT mean you now have immunity to the virus as some people may develop the illness more than once.

Positive antibody result does NOT mean you can’t pass the virus onto others (you may still have the virus)

Positive antibody result does NOT mean you can ignore social distancing, good hygiene and infection control measures.

As this is a preliminary test, a positive result warrants further PCR testing.

Action

If a Patient receives a positive Antibody test result they should be instructed to:

Restrict movement

Self isolate

Contact their GP for instruction.

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