Have you experienced any of the symptoms of COVID-19? Or have you been in close proximity to someone who is sick with COVID-19 for longer than 15 minutes? If so, there is a chance that you may have been infected with the Sars-CoV-2 virus. To get a confirmed diagnosis on the matter, you will need to undergo coronavirus antibody testing.

What is Coronavirus Antibody Testing?

Coronavirus antibody testing is a type of diagnostic testing that is carried out to detect the presence of antibodies that are specific to the Sars-CoV-2 virus. If you have been exposed to the virus, you may likely have developed these antibodies. By detecting them, the test indicates that you may be currently infected or may have been previously infected with COVID-19. The test is also known as serology testing and is done in a healthcare setting, with the analysis of the test results done in a laboratory.

How do Coronavirus Antibody Tests Work?

The coronavirus antibody tests work by taking a blood sample and testing it for the presence and level of antibodies. If any foreign materials make their way into your body, the immune system identifies the ones that might be potentially harmful to you. It then produces antibodies, which are proteins, to fight and destroy harmful substances. The concentration of antibodies will be dependent on the level of the infection and will differ at different stages of the infection.

By carrying out the coronavirus antibody tests, it is possible to detect binding antibodies and neutralizing antibodies. The binding antibody tests are more widely used than the neutralizing antibody tests and make it possible to find out if you have developed any antibodies against the COVID-19 infection. The tests do not, however, indicate how many antibodies your immune system has produced and if the immune response has been effective. The neutralizing antibody tests are comparatively more sensitive and are recommended if you get a positive test result for binding antibodies. They will enable you to find out if the antibodies were effective against the Sars-CoV-2 virus and if they are likely to help ward off another COVID-19 viral infection.

When Should You Get a Coronavirus Antibody Test?

You should get a coronavirus antibody test in the following cases:

• If you experience any of the symptoms of COVID-19.

• If you think you were infected with the Sars-CoV-2 virus in the past.

• If you get a positive result in a diagnostic test.

• If you want to undergo a medical procedure and want to make sure that you are not infected with the Sars-CoV-2 virus.

• If you want to donate plasma and need to know if it has antibodies that could potentially help COVID patients.

Are the Coronavirus Antibody Tests Reliable?

If you have been infected with the COVID-19 virus, it can take up to three or four weeks for your body to produce antibodies in sufficient amounts to be detectable with the coronavirus antibody test. So, if you suspect you may have the virus, it is important to wait to get tested. If you get tested too soon, the coronavirus antibody test will be ineffective.

The quality of the test will also affect the effectiveness of the coronavirus antibody test.

You can get a false-positive result, which means you can test positive for the Sars-CoV-2 virus even though you do not have any antibodies and have never had the COVID-19 infection.

You can also get a false-negative result, which means you can test negative for the Sars-CoV-2 virus even though you are infected. The test fails to detect the antibodies because the test is faulty or you got tested too early before your body could produce enough detectable antibodies.

At present, researchers are still working on improving the coronavirus antibody tests to get more accurate results and get better informed about COVID-19 and the resulting antibodies. Tests undertaken on recovered patients have shown that their bodies continue to have the antibodies for several months afterward. It is not yet known if these antibodies can offer long-term protection against new COVID-19 infections.

To get a coronavirus antibody test, ask your local healthcare provider about the availability of these tests in your area.