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Antibody Testing

What Is Antibody Test?

What Is Antibody Test?

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) scare has made many people confused about how testing is done to determine whether one is infected by COVID-19 since there are numerous tests done differently. Antibody testing is usually performed to determine if a person was infected with COVID-19 in the past and whether they developed antibodies in the blood. A test to diagnose COVID-19 is usually done to determine if a person is infected with COVID-19. If you are curious about how these tests are done, this is what you need to know:

What An Antibody Test Requires

  • You can carry out the test on your own at home.
  • A test kit will be sent to you through the post, where you will have to go through the instructions very carefully.
  • Once you are done reading the instructions, you will use a lancet device to prick your fingertip and draw by squeezing some blood into a test tube.
  • If you are nervous and can't perform the test on your own, you can ask someone to help you if you have not self-isolated.
  • Once you are done performing the test, you will have to post your test in a Royal Mail priority postbox.
What An Antibody Test Requires
Working Of Antibody Test

Working Of Antibody Test

The technician will take a bit of blood from the drawn blood sample. The test is performed to detect both the SARS-CoV-2 virus – which causes COVID-19 and the antibodies – the proteins used to fight against coronavirus. There are two types of antibodies testing:

  • IgM antibodies that occur early in the infection
  • IgG antibodies that will show up later once a person has been infected

The majority of the people who have been affected by COVID-19 end up developing IgG antibodies. This may happen 14 days after one is infected and the symptoms show. Antibodies usually stay in the blood for a while, but you cannot be sure about the new coronavirus. A small blood sample is required to conduct an antibody test for the new coronavirus (COVID-19). Getting that sample requires a provider to:

  • Wipe the skin to clean it
  • Get the vein to swell up with blood by tying an elastic band above the area
  • Inject the needle into the vein, usually in the back of the hand or in the arm inside the elbow
  • The plastic elastic band is then removed, and the needle is pulled out from the vein.

A "fingerstick" is sometimes used to conduct an antibody test. To do this, the provider will first clean the skin and then prick the tip of the finger with a lancet or a tiny needle to draw out blood.

When Is Antibody Testing Performed, And Why Is It Necessary?

 

Antibody testing, also called serology testing, should be performed once a person recovers fully from COVID-19. Depending on the availability of the testing kits, eligibility will vary. A health care professional pricks the tip of the finger to draw out a small sample of blood or draw blood from the vein in the arm. The sample is then tested to check whether the person has developed coronavirus antibodies or not that will fight against the virus. The immune system usually produces the antibodies. Antibodies are proteins responsible for combating the virus to clear it out.
In case the test done shows that you have antibodies, it reveals that at some point, you were infected with COVID-19. It also shows that you have immunity against the virus. However, there isn't insufficient evidence to show that having antibodies will prevent you from catching the virus once again. We are optimistic that the ongoing research will reveal this eventually. When conducting an antibody test in urgent care, the timing and the type of test usually affect the accuracy of the test.

When Is Antibody Testing Performed, And Why Is It Necessary?

The test might fail to detect the presence of antibodies if it was done too early in the course of infection. At this time, immunity is still building up in the body. It is, therefore, good to do the test after 14 days when the symptoms have developed. Tests that result in questionable accuracy are still done even after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized particular antibody tests. Having an accurate antibody test allows those who have developed them to donate plasma after completely recovering from COVID-19. This type of plasma, known to doctors as convalescent plasma, can be used to treat those with severe diseases and help them fight the virus.

Need Of Antibody Testing

You may already have SARS-CoV-2 and fail to notice it. Symptoms may fail to develop in other people who have contracted COVID-19. Experts believe that testing for antibodies helps understand how common the virus is. By knowing who has had the virus, they will know how sick the virus makes the majority of the people. It will also give them a clear picture of what may happen when reinfection happens. Scientists will discover who may develop immunity to the virus by conducting further research.

How Does Antibody Testing Reduce The Spread Of COVID-19 ?

How Does Antibody Testing Reduce The Spread Of COVID-19 ?

Having COVID-19 diagnostic testing allows those who have tested positive to seek treatment early before the virus gets severe. It also enables the Department of Health to trace contacts early and begin self-isolation or quarantine sooner. This helps to curb the spread of the virus. However, it should be understood that not all COVID-19 tests are always 100% accurate. You may be infected by the virus but test negative. This is called a false-negative result. You may also test positive and not be infected. No matter what the situation looks like, it is important to adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These include wearing a face mask when in a public place and maintaining social distancing until further notice. Another benefit of having a Covid antibody test is that it will show how many people were infected with COVID-19 and recovered, even those who did not develop any symptoms. It also helps to know how many people have developed immunity, even though we can't tell how long it will last.

Differentiate Between A COVID-19 Rapid Antibody Detection Test And COVID-19 Traditional Antibody Test

COVID-19 Rapid Antibody Detection Test

  • You will get antibody test results in 10 minutes with only one drop of blood.
  • It shows if someone was infected with the virus earlier on and if they developed antibodies or immunity. The test is not meant to diagnose those who currently suffer from the infection.

COVID-19 Traditional Antibody Test

  • The lab's load capacity will determine when you will receive the results, which can be within 1-5 days.
  • Reveals if a person was infected with coronavirus earlier and if they were able to develop antibodies. The test is not meant to diagnose anyone who has just gotten infected.

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Why Visit An Arleta Urgent Clinic For Antibody Testing?

Visiting an urgent care clinic offers many benefits compared to seeking healthcare from a local emergency room. Whether your medical needs are life-threatening or not, you will receive high-quality urgent care services from an urgent care clinic. They also respond quickly compared to emergency rooms, which take hours to offer medical services. Emergency rooms also offer health care services to those in critical condition only. This means that they will only serve those who are undergoing life-threatening conditions. If you have a medical or health condition requiring urgent care, you will have to seek service from an urgent family clinic nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

A positive result from an antibody test reveals that you have previously or recently contracted the SARS-CoV-2 virus and defeated it by developing antibodies. A positive result may also be false, which is known as a false positive. You may end up getting a false positive if:

  • The test may pick up antibodies that develop due to other coronavirus infections such as common cold and flu, not SARS-CoV-2.
  • Suppose the test was conducted in regions that are experiencing fewer cases of coronavirus infection. These types of tests are often required in areas with higher infection rates.


Getting positive results from an antibody test doesn't always mean that you are protected from contracting COVID-19. It also does not mean that you can't infect others with the virus.


Once you have undergone an antibody test and it turns negative, you have not developed antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It shows that:

  • You were affected with COVID-19 in the past and have not yet developed detectable antibodies. We can't really tell for sure that all infected persons are always going to develop antibodies that can be detected.
  • It may also be possible that you may have been given a wrong negative result. This type of result is usually called a false negative. The test may fail to detect antibodies even though you have them in your immune stream.


  • Sensitivity refers to the ability of the test to detect persons with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. It is called the true positive rate. Most people who have antibodies will be identified as highly sensitive tests. Very few people are unlikely to get a false negative.
  • The ability to identify people who don't have antibodies is specificity. It is also referred to as a true negative rate. It is a highly reliable and specific test that hardly produces a false negative. This means that its accuracy levels are pretty high.


Positive predictive value is the likelihood that a person who has a positive test result truly has antibodies. How common SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are in the population can affect the positive predictive values for SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests. This also depends on the particular time the test is conducted.


The test results from different labs can vary depending on various factors. Some of these factors include the time period it takes for someone who got infected with COVID-19 to develop antibodies. This means that you should always review the results of your antibody test with your primary healthcare provider.


Before you decide to take an antibody test, you should first consult with your local/state health department or health care provider. You will need guidance from your primary health provider to take an antibody test.


Diagnostic and antibody tests are available at testing centers and local health care facilities. If you want to get these types of tests, then you'll need to get a prescription from your health provider. You should reach out to your state or local health department to get more information about these tests.


Getting an antibody test is not meant to determine your immunity level and protection against COVID-19. For more information on whether you should get an antibody test, you should contact your state or local health department or your primary health provider.


Your local/state government will determine the requirement of returning to work. Your employer also has a say on what you need to do before you report back to work. You need to ask your employer what is required of you to return to work. The return to work criteria is designed to help curb the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, you should abide by it.


About Arleta Urgent Clinic

Arleta Urgent Family Clinic is among the best health care facilities in Arleta that is available at the patient's convenience to provide proper health care. At Arleta urgent care, the health of our clients is taken very seriously because we know that health is wealth. We are all about fast response and time-sensitive health care. All our care services are offered on a walk-in basis, which means that patients don't need to wait for hours to receive medical and health attention. Our health care services are available around the clock since we have extended our working hours.

You can count on Arleta Urgent Family Clinic for undivided medical attention. Our staff treat and handle all patients with compassion, humility, and love. We provide healthcare for locals who require urgency and convenience when it comes to top-shelf care. The medical equipment used in the state-of-the-art clinics is all brand new and uses the latest technologies in medical care. Patients who walk into our clinic seeking medical care are never disappointed because we always resolve their issues efficiently by offering effective health care solutions. Pap test services are among the services offered at Arleta Urgent Care Center.

Physical examinations fall among the various health care offered at our clinic. We offer this service at your convenience, so you don't need to wait in queues to receive them. Time is of the essence and should not be wasted because it can't be recovered. Remember, if you need to access antibody testing or even a COVID-19 test, just type antibody testing near me in Google's search bar. You will get all the information on the various healthcare services offered for Covid-19.

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Need Of Urgent Care?

Do you want to receive medical attention and treatment right away? You can start by visiting urgent care that offers a one-stop solution for you. Without any hardship, you will get proper treatment for various health conditions that you may be suffering from. Visit Arleta urgent care today for effective treatment and quick recovery.