Why Covid-19 antibody testing?
Our Nanospot.ai diagnostic test platform is based on the classic hemagglutination (red blood cell clumping) test. Hemagglutination is a well established and highly sensitive diagnostic test, which is commonly used for blood typing, but can also be used for antibody testing, in particular in point-of-care settings. One drawback of current hemagglutination tests is the subjective readout by the human eye, which can lead to incorrect test interpretation. Moreover, current tests lack the ability to quantify test results.
To overcome these limitations, we developed an AI-based approach, which uses cell phone images of the hemagglutination reaction for objective test interpretation. Moreover, we included internal standards into each test card, which extends capabilities to quantitative test interpretation right at the point-of-care.
A Covid-19 antibody test might help you to provide answers.
What Is SARS-CoV-2?
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from a mild common cold to severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. The newly discovered coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is the cause of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and has triggered a global and ongoing pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted from person-to-person. The incubation period for COVID-19 ranges from 3 - 14 days following exposure. Many SARS-CoV-2 infections remain unapparent. The spectrum of symptomatic infection can range from mild fever, cough, fatigue, loss of smell and taste and joint pain to shortness of breath, respiratory failure, shock, multiple organ failure, and death.
How Is Covid-19 diagnosed?
Three different diagnostic tests are available to diagnose COVID-19 infections: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the antigen test and the antibody test (also referred to as COVID-19 serology testing). The PCR and antigen test are typically used during an acute infection to detect the virus itself. Samples are collected by nasal swap from the nasopharynx (the upper part of the throat behind the nose). In contrast, the antibody test is used to measure the body’s immune response during/ after virus infection or vaccination. The antibody test cannot find out whether you are currently infected. The antibody test is a blood test that provides information on how your body responded to a COVID-19 infection or COVID-19 vaccine, and can typically be detected 1-2 weeks after infection/ vaccination or later.
Why Test for Antibodies and should I Get a SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Test?
Antibody or serology tests are used to determine the body’s immune response against a foreign substance, e.g. pathogens such as bacteria or viruses. When you have an infection the body generates antibodies to fight the pathogens and to protect you against future infections. Antibody tests are typically recommended to:
-Find out if you had a past infection
Not all Covid-19 antigen and PCR tests during an acute infection are 100% accurate. You might have had symptoms and tested negative or you might have tested false positive while not being infected.
-Check your vaccination status
-Check for protective antibody levels against infection
There is still much to be learned about Covid-19 antibodies, and it has yet to be determined at what levels antibodies protect against infection with SARS-CoV2, especially the new virus variants.
But by knowing your antibody status now, you will be better able to understand how your immune system responds to infections and vaccinations and how your antibody levels wane over time. This information is essential to health care providers and public health officials to help fight the disease. A better understanding of antibody levels and protection against COVID-19 variants will enable new recommendations to be made for individual patients, vaccination strategies, and the community as a whole.
What Antibodies Does The NanoSpot.ai SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Test Detect?
Upon infection with SARS-CoV-2, the host mounts an immune response against the virus, including the production of antibodies against various viral proteins, such as the Spike protein, which mediates virus binding to a receptor on cells to initiate infection. Antibodies against the receptor-binding domain of Spike (Spike-RBD) as tested in the NanoSpot.ai SARS-CoV-2 antibody test, correlate particularly well with a strong neutralizing response. Accordingly, all current vaccines are based on the Spike protein. Measuring antibodies directed against the Spike protein, obtained either through natural infection or upon vaccination, can therefore provide a measure for immunity against SARS-CoV-2. While the COVID-19 antibody test cannot find out whether you are currently infected, the antibody test will provide information if your previously had the virus or a COVID-19 vaccine and how your body responded to a Covid-19 infection or the vaccine. In general, the higher the antibody levels, the higher the level of protection.
What Are The Advantages Of The NanoSpot.ai SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Test?
Our antibody test is
affordable
rapid (under 3 minutes)
accurate (98% sensitivity, 100% specificity compared to the most sensitive reference laboratory test)
quantitative (calibrated to the WHO standard)
independent of equipment (apart from a smartphone)
What Does It Mean If I Test Positive Or Negative For Covid-19 Antibodies? And How Long Do Sars-CoV-2 Antibodies Remain Positive After Infection Or Vaccination?
A positive antibody test result could mean that you previously had a SARS-CoV-2 infection or that the test is detecting antibodies in your blood in response to your COVID-19 vaccine. Antibodies may remain in the blood for many months and provide immunity against re-infection, however, more studies are needed to understand the precise level of antibodies needed to provide protection.
A negative serology test means that no antibodies were detected in your blood. This could mean
-that you have been infected or vaccinated some time ago and the antibody levels have waned,
-that you were infected or vaccinated and did not mount a sufficiently strong immune response
-that you tested too during infection and it will take more time for your antibodies to rise. Antibodies typically appear 1-2 weeks after the beginning of an infection.
Do You Have Additional Questions Regarding The NanoSpot.ai SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Test?
Please check out our Frequently Asked Questions, Instructions For Use and Instructional Video or contact us. (Add links)We will be happy to address any questions you might have regarding our SARS-CoV-2 test.