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Last April I purchased a test that identifies the presence of COVID-19 antibodies. Earlier in the year I developed a persistent dry cough with some mild cold symptoms, and I wondered if there was a chance that I had contracted COVID-19 virus, and then recovered. Systems for COVID-19 range from the nonexistent asymptomatic type, to severe flu like systems which can lead to hospitalization or worse. Early research seems to indicate that re-infection is unlikely and that the body develops immunities in the form of antibodies, and an individual can be tested for the presence of those COVID-19 antibodies.
My earlier post included information on the company, and their online process for coordinating an antibody test. Note that since that April post, the process has become much simpler and less expensive. Now a test can be purchased directly from Quest Diagnostics at this link, and the test can be performed at over 2,200 different patient lab locations. A test costs $119.00 plus a $10.30 service fee.
Quest Diagnostics SignageGetting Tested
After purchasing the antibody test, I reported to the local Quest Patient Service Center at my neighborhood Safeway. The center is a small office within the store where I checked in and waited for about five minutes. Barbra, the kindly technician, called me into another small patient room where she took my blood work. The venipuncture (taking of a blood sample) she performed was fast and painless – she was very good at her job. The whole process took ten minutes and with a light bandage on my arm, I was back in the store and then out the door.
Patient Lab
Front Door to LabThe Results
I was tested on the morning of Tuesday April 28th at 8:30am. The test results were completed overnight, with a text sent to me at 9:01am Wednesday April 29th. That’s a less than 25-hour turnaround time from sample taken. Pretty slick.
Text From PUSH HEALTHThe test results came back “Negative”, meaning it was unlikely I had been exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 (another name for COVID-19) virus. One of my friends said, “sorry Jimmy” as if the negative result was a loss. I didn’t share this view. First, it is not certain what the long-term effects of COVID-19 infections are. Human society is in the early battle against this illness, and much more information will be discovered and learned about just how the virus works in our fight against it. There may be some downsides about exposure we’re not aware of yet. Second, and more importantly to myself, I just wanted to know the facts. Was that nasty cough COVID-19? Evidence points to another cause, and that knowledge is useful to me.
Test ReportReflections on the Antibody Test
I’ve spoken with other people, at least who I personally know, about their experiences with the antibody test. Of this small group, everyone has stated that their tests have also returned negative results. This includes both my brother who had a very nasty flu for five days in February, and Scott and his four other family members who reside in the New York City area. Scott was not aware of which company administered his family’s test, but my brother also used Quest Diagnostics.
The negative result (no previous exposure) doesn’t surprise me. Even though this is a highly contagious fast spreading virus, the basic odds are that you, and most people, haven’t been exposed. Even in the New York city area. Even so, the chances of exposure do go up over time as more and more people are cumulatively exposed, especially with society and economic activity returning to some semblance of normalcy. Until a vaccine is created, this will be our continued reality.
In the period of time before widespread vaccination I believe travelers are going to have to get comfortable with both kinds of frequent testing; testing for infection and testing for antibodies. The testing technology for this virus is relatively new, and false results on both tests are possible – so again frequent testing will be my strategy going forward.
Several destinations will no doubt adopt the procedures of a very recent COVID-19 virus test for entry. Both Alaska and Iceland have done such measures. Additionally, many individuals have reported to be asymptomatic and may not have realized they were infected at one point. Those individuals are going to want to know if they had been infected, and that they may also have some immunity to future infection. Once again, frequent – or at least semi frequent, antibody testing will be necessary to determine this.
