COVID-19–it’s a word we’ve heard countless times in the past two years, and it’s permanently changed how we live our lives.
COVID-19, or SARS-CoV-2, is a deadly virus that has claimed over 4 million lives worldwide since its emergence in late 2019.
You might count yourself lucky if you’ve never been formally diagnosed with the virus. But if at any point you experienced symptoms such as fever, nasal congestion, loss of taste or smell, cough, shortness of breath, or headache, you may have had a mild case of the virus without knowing it.
There is one way to know if it’s likely you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 in the past: antibody testing. In today’s blog, Emerge Medical and Well Spa explains how COVID-19 antibody testing works and why you might want to get the test.
COVID-19 Antibody Test: How Does it Work?
When you’re exposed to COVID-19, your body produces antibodies–proteins that help fight off infection. During a COVID-19 antibody test, your blood is drawn and tested for the presence of these antibodies.
At Emerge Integrative Clinic and Midtown locations in Tulsa, OK, we test for IgG, which shows up around 14 days after infection with COVID-19. If we detect IgG in your blood during the test, it’s likely you were exposed to COVID-19 at some point in the past. Our procedure takes about 15 minutes, and results are usually received in about 48 hours.
This test is done in a certified lab and is not an instant test. Antibody tests cannot be guaranteed as 100% accurate. It’s best to contact your healthcare provider for further guidance after a positive result.
The COVID-19 antibody test is not a test for active infection with COVID 19.
Why Should I Get a COVID-19 Antibody Test?
There are a couple of reasons why you’d want to get a COVID-19 antibody test. The first is to aid scientists in research. Data from antibody tests help scientists learn how many people have been infected with COVID-19 and how many had less severe symptoms. Receiving a positive result on an antibody test may also make you a candidate for convalescent plasma donation–helping people with severe cases of COVID-19 recover faster.
Another reason for antibody testing is to explain why you might have unexplained, chronic symptoms–such as difficulty breathing, fatigue, joint pain, memory or concentration problems, or insomnia.
Related Post: Worried about COVID-19? Emerge Tulsa Now Has Antibody Testing
Emerge Tulsa: COVID-19 Antibody Testing Near You
At Emerge, we offer COVID-19 antibody testing at our Integrative Clinic and our Midtown location in Tulsa, OK. If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19 and would like more information about testing, visit our website or contact us today if you’re ready to schedule a test.
