Antibody tests for COVID-19 are available through healthcare providers and laboratories. Check with your healthcare provider to see if they offer antibody tests and whether you should get one.
Both SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies may be detected around the same time after infection. However, while IgM is most useful for determining recent infection, it usually becomes undetectable weeks to months following infection; in contrast, IgG is usually detectable for longer periods.
When you are infected with a virus or bacteria, your immune system makes antibodies specifically to fight it. Your immune system can also safely learn to make antibodies through vaccination. Once you have antibodies to a particular disease, they provide some protection from that disease.
• Antibody testing is not currently recommended to assess for immunity to SARS-CoV-2 following COVID-19 vaccination, to assess the need for vaccination in an unvaccinated person, or to determine the need to quarantine after a close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 are generally detectable in blood several days after initial infection, although the duration of time antibodies are present post-infection is not well characterized. Individuals may have detectable virus present for several weeks following seroconversion.
The Tell Me Fast Novel Coronavirus (COVID- 19) IgG/IgM Antibody Test is intended for use as an aid in identifying individuals with an adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2, indicating recent or prior infection.
Antibody (or serology) tests are used to detect previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 and can aid in the diagnosis of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and in adults (MIS-A)2. CDC does not recommend using antibody testing to diagnose current infection.
Antibodies are specialized proteins that are part of your immune system. They help protect against viruses, bacteria and other foreign substances. In the case of COVID-19, after you're infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, your immune system recognizes the virus as a foreign substance and forms antibodies against it.
Yes, the COVID-19 vaccines are recommended, even if you had COVID-19.
Currently authorized SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests have not been evaluated to assess the level of protection provided by an immune response to COVID-19 vaccination. If antibody test results are interpreted incorrectly, there is a potential risk that people may take fewer precautions against SARS-CoV-2 exposure.
Diagnostic tests can show if you have an active COVID-19 infection. Antibody or serology tests look for antibodies in a blood sample to determine if an individual has had a past infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 but cannot be used to diagnose current COVID-19 infection.
Test results from currently authorized SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests should not be used to evaluate a person's level of immunity or protection from COVID-19.