cPass New Antibody Test

@seaspray Hello, Karen. I've missed seeing you on this site. Hope all is well, you're doing better. How's your shoulder now..

I'm soooo late getting to bed, got involved with my laptop and some emails and lost track of time. But, tomorrow, I'll send you a message to catch up a bit. So glad to see your name. I'm working now in different directions, as fun and unusual goodies keep popping up and knocking me around a bit. Heading for sinus surgery soon re infection, infected bones and cyst in sphenoid sinus. May actually be a gift as could be cause of my eyesight issues worsening and hearing loss/aches. Isn't that a hoot? Also, vasculitis is the latest. Will chat soon.

You had this Covid antibody test? My rheumatologist said today I will be getting the booster when it's available since my immune system is so crazy. I suppose you will as well. don't really want it, but I'm staying pretty isolated still, even more than before due to the vasculitis. He told me today to stay pretty isolated. I've even been doing more video consults with our doctors to stay home. They really work pretty well.

I've been wanting to know my antibody level re Covid, so may mention this to my doctor, before the surgery. We'll see.
Anyway, this is an interesting test and one that folks like you can perhaps benefit from getting.
Congratulation on getting better, my friend.
Blessings to you.
elizabeth

Thank you Merry for the info. Would you please state the references this came from? I have an appt today at Mayo and would like to share this with my doctor who ordered the antibody test. Thanks in advance!

Oh, I'm sorry. I should have posted it!

This is a question that you really need to have addressed by a physician or medical professional who is involved in this type of research, rather than on a chat board that is mainly answered by fellow patients. Each lab sets different parameters for the tests, and different thresholds for their results. Some tests are designed to be more sensitive than others (i.e., they set lower thresholds for a positive antibody result) than others. I believe most of the currently available antibody tests are still considered experimental, and they give qualitative, rather than quantitative results. This at least holds true for people who have acquired immunity (those who were exposed and recovered from Covid-19 naturally). I don't know if antibody tests given after vaccination are conducted or reported in the same way with the same parameters. The bottom line is, at this point in time, no one can tell anyone exactly how long natural (acquired through exposure and recovery) immunity lasts vs vaccine-induced immunity. It's all speculation, and "expert" opinions seem to change every day. The studies so far have conflicting results. Until well-designed, peer-reviewed and non-biased, long-term studies are conducted, right now it all depends on who you believe.

@merpreb To me, this is very confusing. Johns Hopkins is using antibody testing to determine the effect of the vaccine on immunocompromised people so is their research totally inaccurate?

I realize the antibody tests do not tell the whole story but I would think they do give us one piece of the puzzle. If you show antibodies it certainly must be better than if you do not.
JK

@contentandwell- I agree. My answer was to a very specific type of test. There are all sorts of tests for inflammation and antibodies but the one that we all seem to want is one that gives us a grade or number to tell us how much immunity in our bodies there is against COVID-19. Other than that I don't know enough to make even a guess.

I believe JH is using a specific test they helped develop, which is still considered experimental and not fully licensed for distribution. I understand it can give quantitative information, and they are still gathering data about it. In the mean time, they don't know what specific levels of antibodies mean - only that most who test "negative" convert to "positive" after a third dose.
@loribmt and @rosemary, as transplant recipients, what was your experience as far as testing for antibodies and a third dose?
Sue

@merpreb I think that is the test being used by JH. I know that MGH will not give me an order for an antibody test but my PCP did the last time. I hope she will again, I think it does give us some indication if that third shot has helped.
JK

@sueinmn I did have their antibody test. I went to LabCorp which is the lab they are using, and had the test that they use. This was about 5 or 6 weeks after my second shot and my antibody number was 13.83 which is pretty low. I hope my PCP will write the order for me to get it again, if not I will have to pay for it myself.
JK

Hi, Sue. I got my 3rd dose of the Pfizer last week. I had my 1st and 2nd doses in February according to the 21 day protocol for spacing.

I have not had any antibody tests, and I don't know what my antibody level is.
I was told in May at Mayo that they were no longer doing it as a routine test. There are many questions about what the number means as fa as immunity. Back then, questions were arising about the role of B-cells and T-cells, our medications, length of time since transplant, underlying conditions, type of transplant. I am happy to see that these are part of current research.

I have not inquired about getting one. I don't feel a need to get tested unless my transplant team suggests that I get one.