![]() They're also helpful to researchers studying the prevalence of the virus across a population or tracking the degree to which antibody levels wane over time. On an individual level, antibody tests can be useful for picking up evidence of a past SARS-CoV-2 infection. ![]() While it could be tempting to consider these tests a measuring stick of your immune response - or lack thereof - researchers and doctors say your protection against the virus still can't be boiled down to antibody levels in a simple blood test. You might think that high enough levels of antibodies mean you don't need that booster, right? Eh, not so fast. Others can actually give you scores that reflect your levels. Some tests just let you know if you have them - or not. There are dozens of tests on the market that scan blood samples from a blood draw or a finger prick for the presence of these antibodies. Ghady Haidar, a transplant infectious diseases physician at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "I know a lot of people, even outside of studies, are just getting their antibody levels done," says Dr. And while the Food and Drug Administration does not currently recommend antibody tests to assess immunity, that isn't stopping some people. Unlike other COVID-19 tests that are used to diagnose an active infection, these antibody tests are aimed at finding evidence of your body's immune response to a past infection with the virus, but they can also pick up certain antibodies that your body generated in response to the vaccine. These are specific proteins made by your immune cells in response to the vaccine or the virus - proteins that serve as a key part of the body's arsenal in preventing COVID-19. ![]() But as breakthrough infections become more common, many people are wondering in the meantime: Does my immune system have enough firepower to protect me right now?Ī natural way to look for an answer would seem to be checking for certain antibodies in your blood that target the coronavirus. for some people and millions more could be due for them soon. Naveen Sharma/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gettyīooster shots against the coronavirus have already started rolling out in the U.S. But scientists say these widely available tests can't tell you the full story, at least not yet. Testing your antibody levels to get a sense of your COVID-19 protection may be tempting, especially as you wait for a booster shot. ![]()
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