Antibody Testing... So what's the deal?

[LuFins Dad]

I googled antibody testing this morning to see if there were news stories on when it would be widely available and it is. In fact, I was inundated with advertisements including from the labs my wife routinely uses - https://www.labcorp.com/antibody-testing , so at this point, should we start consulting with our doctors and scheduling the tests?

For weeks we've been hearing about how important the antibody tests will be, but nobody is advising people that they are readily available and whether they should schedule one? I think I will send a note to my doctor.

[Aqua Letifer]

False results are a lot more prevalent with antibody tests at this time, but they're working on the problem.

[jon-nyc]

I have one scheduled next Tuesday.

I’m already at Labcorp once a month. I had Duke add it to my standing order. I’ll keep getting tested monthly until I’m immune either through exposure or vaccination.

[George K]

The screening says that I qualify. It's only $10, is that right?

[jon-nyc]

I don’t know. My insurance will get billed for it.

[LuFins Dad]

@Aqua-Letifer But I believe the issue is false negatives, primarily? I can live with a false negative.

[LuFins Dad]

@George-K You need a doctor's recommendation. You can get your doctor to recommend it and have no fee or you can have one of their docs sign off on it for $10.

[George K]

Thanks!

[jon-nyc]

@Aqua-Letifer said in Antibody Testing... So what's the deal?:

False results are a lot more prevalent with antibody tests at this time, but they're working on the problem.

Some have better sensitivity than specificity, some are the opposite. FDA just tested 12 approved tests.

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/emergency-situations-medical-devices/eua-authorized-serology-test-performance

I don’t think labcorp’s was tested. It’s under emergency approval.

[George K]

I just filled out the questionnaire at Walgreens.

I answered "no" to all the questions except:

"Are you diabetic?"

Well, technically I am. Well controlled on diet (A1C is consistently less than 5.7). So I said yes.

"Have you been in an area where there has been community spread of the virus?"

My town has had 56 cases, including one at the grocery where I shopped recently, so I said yes.

I qualify for testing.