Covid 19 / SARS COV2 Antibody tests Belfast
There are four COVID antibody tests available at Vitalis Health
We now recommend the ROCHE Elecsys Spike IgG/IgM for assessing if you have antibodies to the vaccine and find out what your antibody level is.
If you have not been vaccinated against COVID 19 you can also use the ROCHE Elecsys Spike IgG/IgM test to see if you have had a recent COVID infection.
If you are vaccinated against COVID but want to know if you have had a recent infection then we recommend the Roche N-protein or the Abbott IgG antibody test.
If you are travelling to China then you require the Abbott IgM test.
Don’t worry we can help you decide at your blood test appointment what antibody test will best answer your question.
Read more below about the different antibody tests before booking.
+ What does the COVID Antibody test look for?
The COVID antibody tests looks for either the short term antibodies ( IgM), the long term antibodies ( IgG) or both the long term antibodies and short term antibodies against SARS COV 2 thus providing evidence that you have had COVID-19 in the previous 1-6 months
+ How is the COVID Antibody test taken?
This is taken as a venous blood sample by a doctor or phlebotomist
+ When should I have the antibody test preformed?
At least 14 Days After Your First COVID-19 Symptoms or 28 days after your vaccine to SARS COV2( if you are not vaccianted and want to check for antibody levels to a recent infection with COVID we recommend the ROche Elecsys Spike, PLEASE note some people are slow to produce abtibodies so we recommend waiting 28 days since your symptoms began.)
+ When will I get my results?
Results are available in 24-72 hours after arrival of the blood sample at the lab
+ What does the ROCHE IgG/IgM Spike antibody test tell me?
It will tell you whether you have antibodies either because of recent infection (if unvaccianted) or recent vaccination
+ If I have been vaccianted will I definitely have antibodies or a positive test?
Yes, most people will have antibodies presnet on the Roche SPike antibody test, unless they are on certain immune supressing drugs that stop the body producing the antibodies. Updated 10th March 2022.
You may be wondering how long the antibody can be detected for after infection?
This varies depending on the severity of the initial illness, your symptoms of COVID-19 and whether you have been exposed to it again after the first illness.
We are still picking up positive antibody results six months after the initial symptoms of COVID developed. However, we know from studies in Australia that antibodies were found to drop after 2-3 months in people with few or no symptoms who had tested positive for COVID by PCR test.
Cost of the SARS COV2 antibody test** and blood test appointment is £85
More about COVID-19 and SARS COV2 antibody
Most people who recover from Coronavirus have been found to produce antibodies to the SARS-COV2.
However, it is not yet known if an individual who has a positive antibody test result after recent infection with SARS-COV2 i.e. showing a raised antibody level; will be protected from future infection.
This means even if you have been infected with SARS-COV2 and your antibody test is raised, we do not know as yet, if this will protect you from future infection. This is because the virus may only cause a small immune response and so the antibodies are not ‘geared’ to fight the next infection if that were to occur.
It is, however, possible that there will be some immunity against a second infection. Time will tell.
It is not the same as the Molecular RNA testing for COVID-19 which is (PCR Swab) taken as a swab from the nose and throat; this identifies people with the virus and is sometimes needed for travel or work purposes.
The Abbot and Roche antibody tests for SARS COV2 ( the COVID virus) has a turn around time of 2-3 at present, but there may delays due to transport to the laboratory; this does affect the analysis of your sample.
COVID Antibody tests In more detail!
Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2-S (Spike) IgG/IgM total antibody test
This blood test enables the determination of both the presence and level of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is the target of many COVID-19 vaccines,. It can signal whether a person has already been infected and has potentially developed immunity to the virus., and plays an important part in characterising a vaccine-induced immune response.
Roche Elecsys N protein Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM total antibody test
This blood test enables the determination of the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid protein and is useful to determine recent infection in COVID in vaccinated individuals. It does not given an antibody level it is either positive or negative.
Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG test
This blood test enables the determination of the presence of IgG antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid protein, similarly to the ROCHE total antibody this will pick up infection in COVID vaccinated individuals.
Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgM test
This blood test enables the determination of the presence of IgM antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein which is required for travel to China. This shows whether someone who is vaccinated against COVID 19 could have the early stages of a COVID infection.
Reasons to have the SARS COV2 anti-body test
You may have had flu like symptoms in the last 1-5 months in keeping with COVID-19, but did not have it confirmed by a nose/throat swab and are wondering if you had the the Coronavirus.
You may have had no symptoms of flu but someone close to you did, and so you want to know if you carried the SARS-COV2 or had a mild version of it.
You have had the COVID vaccination and want to know if you have had a good antibody response- this is usually only necessary if you are taking medication that lowers your immune response.
Testing should be undertaken at least 14 days* or more following exposure to someone with the Coronavirus or the onset of your own flu like symptoms.
*But , it is not gUAranteed that that you will have antibodies After 14 days if may take 28 days siNce the onset of symptoms.
Symptoms of COVID
The incubation period of COVID-19 ranges from between 1 to 10 days, with the majority of cases showing with symptoms at 5-7 days.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, dry cough, chest tightness, loss of taste and smell, and difficulty breathing. These symptoms have the potential to develop into a severe respiratory (breathing) illness.
The evidence so far shows that death rate increases with age, gender- being male-, body weight, ethnicity- Black, asian or other minority ethnicities-, being a smoker, having chronic lung disease or heart disease.
What are IgG antibodies?
The human immune system reacts to the infection by SARS-CoV-2 by producing antibodies from a few days to 2 weeks after symptoms begin. Specific IgG antibodies are produced in the later stages of infection to SARS-CoV-2, and are detectable after swab tests of the throat and nose for the virus are no longer detectable. IgM antibodies are produced with the first two weeks and usually disappear by week 6, but they can persist beyond week 6 in some people.
The persistence of IgG antibodies in the blood allows identification of people who have been infected by SARS-CoV-2.
Results are available within 24-72 of the lab receiving the sample. But there may be delays with the sample arriving at the lab due to COVID.
Dr. Siobhan is one of the best doctors I’ve seen till date. She is very patient, understanding and concerned. She’s flexible with appointments. I went to an NHS clinic which has horrible with registrations and appointments. I’m so glad I met Dr. Siobhan. I highly recommend her.
Rosemary.