Nowadays, the covid 19 antibody test is getting increasingly popular. While the covid 19 virus test is simpler and faster, people are now moving towards the antibody test.

Any type of antibody test is conducted to check the antibodies formed in your body as a defence mechanism of the immune system towards any foreign organism. An antibody test helps you gain information and insight into the spread of the foreign organism in your body and how your body is being affected by it.

Back to the topic, in this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about the covid 19 antibody test. Let us start with the definition.

What is a covid antibody test?

Our immune system forms antibodies to identify and defeat foreign organisms, in this case, the covid virus. The test helps us identify and measure the presence of antibodies in your blood against the virus.

The test is different from the covid 19 virus check as the virus check helps us identify if the virus is in your body or not, but the antibody test helps you identify if your immune system has fought the virus or not.

Now let us move to the mechanics of the test.

How does it work?

A doctor or a professional will take a bit of your blood with a finger prick. The test looks for both types of antibodies to SARS- CoV- 2 which are the IgG and IgM antibodies.

• IgM antibodies happen early in the covid infection in your body
• IgG antibodies are more probable to happen later in the infection.

The IgG antibodies are most likely to show up after 14 days of the covid infection but they stay in your body long after the infection is cured.

Are antibody tests accurate?

The accuracy of the covid antibody test relies on many factors like the type of antibody being tested, the gap between the infection and the test and more. The antibodies can start showing from 1 to 3 weeks after the beginning of the infection, so if you get the test taken as soon as you get infected, the results will not be accurate.

You can even get false-positive or false-negative results which we will get into later in the next topic.

Nevertheless, healthcare companies are advertising their tests on their accuracy. Some even say that their accuracy is up to 100 per cent. So, we can say that if conducted at the right time, the test can be quite accurate.

What do the results mean?

First things first, if you have got the covid vaccination shot, it automatically means that you have antibodies. but if you didn’t get the shot and had positive results in the IgG and IgM antibodiestests, it means you have already had the virus.

The test results can also be false-positive if you have antibodies but had a different kind of virus.

In the simplest words, if your test results are positive, you have the antibodies, if negative, you don’t have the antibodies.

Benefits of the covid antibody test

Now that you know so much about the covid antibody test, let us talk about the benefits of getting the test. They are as follows:

●       Identifies past infection

Many of us had the virus and did not even know about it. Getting an antibody test can help you find out if you had the covid 19 virus or not.

●       Easy and fast

With these tests, you do not have to go through complex procedures and wait for hours. The test is pretty straightforward and not at all time-consuming.

●       Vaccine testing

The IgG and IgM antibodies test will also help you find out about the level of immunity you gained against covid after getting the vaccination shot.

Who can take an antibody test?

If you fall under any of the categories we mention below, you may take the antibody test:

●       Negative covid test

If you have the correct symptoms for the covid virus but your tests came out negative, the doctor or your healthcare provider will recommend you get the antibody test taken.

●       Plasma donation

Before you can donate your plasma, you will be required to take the antibody test.

●       Before surgery

Your doctor may ask you to get your antibodies tested before you get surgery.

●       At risk patients

If you are at risk of catching the virus and do not have the perfect immunity such as in elders, you may be asked to take the test.

Conclusion

That was all you needed to know about the IgG and IgM antibodies test, also known as the covid antibody test. This test checks your immunity level against the virus that caused the pandemic. We talked about its benefits, accuracy, results and who can take the test.