HEALTH

Live Mic: Doctor explains antibody testing for COVID-19

Apr 20, 2020, 6:02 PM | Updated: 7:42 pm

doctor antibody testing...

Tube tests stands in a holder as media visit the Microbiology Laboratory of the University Hospital, CHUV, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Lausanne, Switzerland, Monday, March 23, 2020. (Denis Balibouse/Keystone via AP, Pool)

(Denis Balibouse/Keystone via AP, Pool)

SALT LAKE CITY — There are many conversations surrounding the topic of antibody testing for COVID-19.

But, what exactly is antibody testing?

Your body makes antibodies when in fights infections like COVID-19. So, a blood test could identify if you’ve ever been infected with coronavirus and also tell health care workers how widespread the infection is.

Dr. Patricia Slev, the immunology section chief at ARUP and associate professor of pathology at the University of Utah, joined Lee Lonsberry on Live Mic to explain the next step in antibody testing.

“We’re all familiar with the swab test where you get a Q-tip inserted up your nose, and let’s you know if you have COVID-19, but this antibody testing is a whole different ball of wax. Could you explain that for us, please?” Lee asked.

“Antibody testing involves the traditional blood draw,” Slev said. “Swab tests or molecular tests involve viral genetic material and determine whether you’re currently infected with the virus.

“Antibody test detects antibodies, which are proteins that develop in an individual as they are trying to fight the disease,” Slev explained.

Developing a COVID-19 test

Slev said the antibody test ARUP is now developing for IgG antibodies, which are more likely to show up later after you’ve recovered from coronavirus.

An IgG or Immunoglobulin G is the most common antibody. IgG is in the blood and other body fluids and protects against bacterial and viral infections.

“If the IgG antibody is detected in an individual, it suggests that individual has been exposed to COVID-19 infection,” she said.

“And who no longer has that or has immunity to it? What does a positive detection of this test tell us about that individual?” Lee asked.

“To date, we do not know if the presence of antibody equals immunity. So I want to make that very clear. We do not have definitive proof to date that the presence of the antibody equals immunity,” Slev noted.

“We also don’t know the duration of the immunity. So if we detect IgG, we don’t know how long it will be present. So individuals who have symptoms and who you have to diagnose for COVID-19 infection, molecular testing is the recommended test,” Slev said.

Immunity

“How do you determine if somebody has built up an immunity to any virus?” Lee asked.

“As we become familiar with a virus and its infection patterns, disease course and the type of responses that an individual develops…then we can follow these antibody kinetics to see how long these antibodies are present.

“If a person is positive for these antibodies, does it prevent reinfection or provide protective immunity? But that takes time, and so those studies are ongoing for COVID-19,” Slev said.

“Is it more common than not for an individual to have a positive antibody test and then be immune from that virus?” Lee questioned.

“It is possible and that is a common finding, but again each infectious disease or each pathogen or virus is different,” she said. “So just because it’s true for one infection, doesn’t mean it’s true for another infection.”

“Of what use is this information?” Lee asked.

“One application of this information, for example, is to perform this testing on health-care workers who have been on the front lines to see if they have been exposed to the virus,” Slev said.

“Another application could be surveillance…because right now we do not know the true rate of infection. Some individuals, for example, are asymptomatic,” Slev said.

“So using the test …to determine the true rate of infection in the community, regional or national levels is one application of the test that will give us very important information, particularly since we suspect some individuals may be asymptomatic.”

Live Mic with Lee Lonsberry can be heard weekdays from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on KSL NewsRadio. Users can find the show on the KSL NewsRadio website and app

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Health

Myrtle Spurge is often touted as deer-resistant and drought-tolerant, but the plant is rapidly inva...

Eliza Pace

Salt Lake County Health warns of harmful myrtle spurge plant

Myrtle spurge was originally introduced to Utah as a decorative plant but is an invasive species that has spread to natural areas.

6 hours ago

Dairy cows across the country, specifically in Texas, Kansas and New Mexico are getting sick with a...

Alexandrea Bonilla

Cows across the country are getting sick with a “flu-like” illness

Utah is altering the requirements for livestock brought into the state after multiple cows across the country have gotten sick with a flu-like illness.  

17 hours ago

Over 30% of people in Utah are considred prediabetic because of the amount of soda they drink....

Amanda Dickson

Is Utah’s soda obsession behind our levels of prediabetes?

Here in Utah, our soda drinking habits might be making us particularly at risk for prediabetes and diabetes.

24 hours ago

A hand holds a tablet stamped with "MF," standing for mifepristone....

CNN

Study shows how self-managed abortion became more common, as Supreme Court abortion drug hearing looms

Medication abortion has become increasingly common since it first became available in the United States two decades ago.

2 days ago

Small screens...

Don Brinkerhoff

Small screens impacting the mental health of kids says study

The increased use of small screens by kids and teens may be linked to increased mental health issues according to a study.

2 days ago

bottles of prescription medication at a desk. 16.2% of Utahns are unable to get the prescription me...

Tammy Kikuchi and Emma Keddington

Utah ranks second in the nation for prescription medication shortages

The hardest prescription medication to get is for ADHD, cancer and high blood pressure.

3 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Live Mic: Doctor explains antibody testing for COVID-19