How Effective Are COVID-19 Antibody Tests?
Since many of the 'finger-prick antibody blood tests' use of the similar technology in the lab, as the intravenous test of Roche, some online sellers have incorrectly claimed that the kits they are selling are certified by the PHE.
Superdrug recently became the first retailer to offer an antibody test for COVID-19. Several others, like Lloyds Pharmacy, have also started offering similar tests.
Each testing kit costs less than $80. It is administered by taking a sample of blood at home and sending it for laboratory assessment after.
According to reports, Superdrug put off sales of its antibody finger-prick tests after a health regulator came out with a warning on the dependability of such tests.
This was in late May when the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency or MHRA reportedly called for a temporary cessation to the said tests, which look for proof of contagion, two or more weeks before, as issues on patient safety are addressed.
The health agency said that individuals who have already gone through the COVID-19 test through the finger-prick antibody test should not take the test results as completely dependable and not act based solely on it.
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How an Antibody Test Works
An antibody test determines if an individual has formerly contracted COVID-19 and has since recovered from the illness.
The test is administered via a device that pricks the finger for blood. According to medical reports, the said blood is tested for COVID-19 antibodies to find out if the person being tested has already beaten the infectious disease and some immunity to it.
In connection to the test, the test for COVID-19 that the government is presently using can determine if a person is infected, not if they got infected and achieved recovery.
Additionally, it also takes quite long for the swab test results to come out. More so, the said antibody test is also called a serological test.
The warning which MHRA gave is not applicable for antibody tests that use blood extracted from the veins, which need the help of a health worker to administer.
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First Approved Test
In May, reports also revealed that Public Health England or the PHE had certified as effective the first of such tests, which Roche manufactured. Consequently, the government has placed 10 million orders of the tests mentioned.
Furthermore, since many of the finger-prick antibody blood tests use similar technology in the lab, as the intravenous test of Roche, some online sellers have inappropriately claimed the home test kits they sell are PHE-certified.
However, the PHE has not recognized such tests that use blood samples taken out of the capillaries on the end of the finger, as efficient.
The laboratory-based of Elecsys needs a blood sample which a health professional should take.
Blood serums are added with reagents and are carefully tested in Cobas analyzers, which are already commonly installed in NHS labs nationwide.
According to research, an accurate antibody test's development is found to be fundamental in helping Britain get back to work.
Antibodies May Develop Immunity to Contracting COVID-19 Again
Scientists claim people producing antibodies following COVID-19 infection may develop immunity to contracting the illness again, making them safe to go back to work.
According to Critical Care consultant Dr. Ron Daniels, from the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, if one tests positive for antibodies, the person may have a certain degree of immunity.
Daniels also said that they are still unsure as to how long and how much damage the pandemic is still causing. Therefore, one should not stop social or physical distancing.
Lastly, the government said it formerly looked forward to rolling out millions of antibody tests. However, supplies coming from China did not pass both the specificity and sensitivity certifications.
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Jul 14, 2020 08:00 AM EDT
