Do you remember the constant talk about antibody tests during COVID-19? We all heard stories like, 'If the test is positive, it means you had the disease before.' So what exactly is an antibody test, or as some call it, a serology test? Today, we'll talk about what it looks for in our bodies in a simple, understandable way.
Let's first see, what are these antibodies?
Simply put, our body is like a country. When an enemy, such as a virus, bacteria, or allergen, enters our country, our army, our immune system , creates special soldiers to fight against that enemy. We call those soldiers antibodies .
These antibodies are a type of protein. The important thing is that the body does not make the same type of soldiers for every enemy that comes into contact with it. One type of antibody is made for one virus, and another type of antibody is made for another virus. That means our body builds an army that has been specially trained for every battle.
So what does an antibody test do?
It's very simple. An antibody test looks for those "special soldiers" (antibodies) in your blood. The important thing is that this test doesn't look for the enemy (virus or bacteria) , but for the soldiers that our body has built to fight that enemy.
Take COVID-19 for example. If you take an antibody test for COVID-19, it checks to see if your blood contains antibodies made against the COVID-19 virus.
- If the test is positive: It means you have previously been infected with the COVID-19 virus, or you have received the COVID-19 vaccine.
- If the test is negative: It means that you do not have those antibodies in your body.
Important: An antibody test is not a diagnostic test that checks whether you currently have an active disease. This is because it can take several weeks for antibodies to develop. Therefore, tests such as PCR or Antigen tests are used to check whether you currently have the disease.
When is this Antibody Test needed?
An antibody test is useful in many situations. It is used to detect many other diseases, not just COVID-19.
| Opportunity | Description |
|---|---|
| Regarding COVID-19 |
|
| To diagnose other diseases |
|
| Allergies | Antibody tests are used to see if your body is allergic to certain things (allergens). But sometimes, especially with foods, tests can give false-positive results. This means that even though the test is positive, you may not actually be allergic to that thing. |
Are there types of antibodies?
Yes, there are 5 main types of antibodies in our body.
- Immunoglobulin A (IgA)
- Immunoglobulin D (IgD)
- Immunoglobulin E (IgE)
- Immunoglobulin G (IgG)
- Immunoglobulin M (IgM)
Each of these has its own functions, but when we talk about infections, we hear most about IgM and IgG .
Simply put, when an infection enters the body, the first antibodies produced are IgM antibodies. These are the first army to go to battle. They are produced quickly and disappear after a while.
Then IgG antibodies are produced. These are the ones that stay in our bodies for a long time, sometimes for months or years, and remember and fight the enemy if it comes back. So having IgG antibodies means that you have had an infection before and have developed some level of protection against it.
Will my antibody test be positive if I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Yes, it is possible. Because what a vaccine does is teach our body to make antibodies to fight the virus. So since your body has antibodies after the vaccine, if you do an antibody test, it is possible that it will be positive.
How to take the test and prepare
This is very simple, like a regular blood test.
- Preparation: This test does not require any special preparation. If possible, wear short-sleeved clothing, as this will make it easier to draw blood.
- During the test: A doctor or nurse will take a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm. You may feel a slight stinging sensation when the needle is inserted, but it is usually not very painful. Sometimes this test can also be done by taking a small amount of blood from your fingertip.
- After the test: A small bandage will be applied to the area where the blood was drawn. This can be removed after a few hours. The area may feel a little bruised, which is normal.
This is a very safe test. However, some people may feel a little dizzy after donating blood. If you have this habit, tell the person taking the blood beforehand.
What do the test results say?
When you get your results, you want to know exactly what they mean.
| Result | What it could mean |
|---|---|
| Positive | You have antibodies in your blood. In the case of COVID-19, this could be from a previous infection or from the vaccine. Typically, if the infection was severe, antibody levels may be high. |
| Negative | This could mean several things:
|
Very important: Even if an antibody test shows that you have antibodies, it does not guarantee that you are fully protected from the disease and will not get it again (immunity) . Especially with diseases like COVID-19, there is a chance that you will be reinfected even if you have antibodies. Therefore, this test should not be taken as a guarantee of immunity.
If you have any questions about your test result or want to know exactly what it means, be sure to talk to your doctor. He or she will explain it to you.
Take-Home Message
- An antibody test does not look at the germ that caused the disease, but at the antibodies the body has produced against it.
- This cannot tell you if you have an active infection. Other tests like PCR or Antigen are used for that.
- In cases like COVID-19, a positive result can occur if you have previously had the disease or have received the vaccine.
- Even if a positive result comes back, it cannot be said with 100% certainty that there is complete immunity.
- If you have any questions about your test results, the best and most appropriate person to talk to is your doctor.
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