For the antibody testers among us

[jon-nyc]

This is interesting.

Additionally, as of 3/28/2022, the antibody tests administered by LabCorp can now detect antibodies up to >25,000 U/mL. We are unable to re-test any previous samples that were only detected up to >2500 U/mL.

I got the ">2500" score in January. I tested last week but was in the 1600s.

[Mik]

Getting ready for the second booster. I tested > 2500 in January, with my booster having been in August.

[jon-nyc]

Wow. My 2500 came 2 weeks after shot 6.

[mark]

Where does one obtain an antibody test?

[Mik]

All the labs have it now, but you have to make sure you get the spike protein antibody test if you want to know the effect of the vaccines. The regular test just tells you if you have had the virus and measures different antibodies.

[jon-nyc]

Labcorp you can get the semi-quantitative done. For $10 they’ll even write the rx for you

[George K]

@jon-nyc said in For the antibody testers among us:

Labcorp you can get the semi-quantitative done. For $10 they’ll even write the rx for you

Wow. I should do that (I've had a booster, but it was in October).

Gotta link?

[jon-nyc]

Choose the option on the left side.

https://www.labcorp.com/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/individuals/antibody-test

[George K]

@jon-nyc said in For the antibody testers among us:

Choose the option on the left side.

https://www.labcorp.com/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/individuals/antibody-test

Thanks!

[mark]

@George-K said in For the antibody testers among us:

@jon-nyc said in For the antibody testers among us:

Choose the option on the left side.

https://www.labcorp.com/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/individuals/antibody-test

Thanks!

+1!

[taiwan_girl]

For the uneducated here ( me!), what numbers are we looking for and why?

[jon-nyc]

It’s a measure of Covid antibody levels in your blood. The unit is arbitrary and it’s not totally clear what level is ‘protective’ (insofar as that’s even an intelligible concept) but it’s useful to see where you are on the scale.

I’ve learned that my antibody titre half life is less than half that of immunocompetent people.

[Axtremus]

https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/03/pfizer-moderna-vaccines-spur-slightly-different-antibodies-study-finds/

It says Pfizer and Moderna vaccines stimulate the body to generate different mixes of antibodies, and that mixing and matching the two as we get boosters is/are good.

(@Aqua-Letifer, which is grammatical, "mixing and matching is good" or "mixing and matching are good"?)

[Aqua Letifer]

@Axtremus said in For the antibody testers among us:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/03/pfizer-moderna-vaccines-spur-slightly-different-antibodies-study-finds/

It says Pfizer and Moderna vaccines stimulate the body to generate different mixes of antibodies, and that mixing and matching the two as we get boosters is/are good.

(@Aqua-Letifer, which is grammatical, "mixing and matching is good" or "mixing and matching are good"?)

"Are good" in this case.

[George K]

@Aqua-Letifer said in For the antibody testers among us:

(@Aqua-Letifer, which is grammatical, "mixing and matching is good" or "mixing and matching are good"?)

"Are good" in this case.

Really? How's that.

I would think that "mixing and matching" is one concept so singular verb.

"Putting salt and pepper on an egg is good," eg. Unless "is" is referring to "putting."

[Axtremus]

@George-K said in For the antibody testers among us:

@Aqua-Letifer said in For the antibody testers among us:

(@Aqua-Letifer, which is grammatical, "mixing and matching is good" or "mixing and matching are good"?)

"Are good" in this case.

@Aqua-Letifer, thanks!

I would think that "mixing and matching" is one concept so singular verb.

Confusing, right? “Verb noun agreement” is one those “unnecessary rules” to put in a language’s grammar. It provides minimal redundancy protection for accuracy with way too much complexity.

"Putting salt and pepper on an egg is good," eg. Unless "is" is referring to "putting."

Yeah, in this case it’s clear to be that the “is” refers to “putting.”

[jon-nyc]

Why is it even “mixing and matching”. They’re making the case for mixing, not matching.

[Axtremus]

@jon-nyc said in For the antibody testers among us:

Why is it even “mixing and matching”. They’re making the case for mixing, not matching.

“Matching” is necessary because the “mixing” needs to stay within the confines of “COVID-19 vaccines” to get good COVID-19 protection. (E.g., mixing a Pfizer shot with a Clorox shot is no good.)

[Aqua Letifer]

@George-K said in For the antibody testers among us:

@Aqua-Letifer said in For the antibody testers among us:

(@Aqua-Letifer, which is grammatical, "mixing and matching is good" or "mixing and matching are good"?)

"Are good" in this case.

Really? How's that.

I would think that "mixing and matching" is one concept so singular verb.

It isn't.

Watch yourself mix stuff. Then watch yourself match stuff. Notice the difference. Also note whether one has any dependence on the other.

You're getting hung up on the alliterative cliché. Just because it's commonly said together doesn't mean it's one concept. They're two separate concepts that for lazy rhetorical reasons often get said together.

[Horace]

Oddly “mixing and matching together” seems to go better with “are good” rather than “is good”. But the “together” should indicate you are treating them as a single system of actions.