Are you wondering whether you have been exposed and/or infected with COVID-19? Many people who have tested positive for the virus did not have any prior symptoms. Did you have an upper respiratory illness in December or early 2020 and you are now questioning whether that may have been COVID-19? Do you want to be a part of the effort to determine the actual spread of COVID-19?
If so, then you can order a Vibrant America COVID-19 antibody test and it can be drawn within the safety of your home.
This is a more thorough test than many of the available antibody tests now available because it tests for 3 different antibody levels, IgM, IgA, and IgG. This will help lower the possibility of false negative testing – receiving a negative result when you have indeed been infected with COVID-19. See below for pricing and availability.
Vibrant America’s COVID-19 antibody test has been validated by FDA EUA (Emergency Use Authorization) standards and authorized for use. Validation report is available upon request.
What will the test show me?
A COVID-19 antibody test is different than the nasal swab test that checks for the presence of the COVID-19 virus itself. The antibody test can tell you whether you have been infected and whether your body has generated antibodies against the virus.
What is an antibody test?
An antibody test reveals whether a person’s immune system has developed antibodies needed to fight off a specific infection. A positive test means a person has antibodies, and therefore had the virus at some point; a negative test means a person does not have antibodies and has not yet contracted the virus – false negatives can occur. Antibody test results are especially important for detecting previous infections with few or no symptoms.
What kind of antibodies does this test for?
Most commercial COVID-19 antibody tests available now check for IgG antibodies only. This means that you may have a false negative test if your immune system has not developed IgG antibodies yet. This can occur during early infection or exposure or if your immune system is slow to generate IgG antibodies. Testing for all 3 common antibodies is a more thorough way to test and will lead to less false negative testing.
Vibrant America’s antibody test checks for all 3 immunoglobulin antibodies.
IgM – Immunoglobulin M
This test detects IgM antibodies. IgM is usually the first antibody produced by the immune system when a virus attacks. A positive IgM test indicates that you may have been infected and that your immune system has started responding to the virus. When IgM is detected you may still be infected, or you may have recently recovered from a COVID-19 infection.
IgA – Immunoglobulin A
This test detects IgA antibodies which rises soon after viral exposure, usually within the first 3-5 days. IgA is found mainly in the respiratory and digestive tracts. Its rise represent a further response by your immune system in combating the virus.
IgG – Immunoglobulin G
This test detects IgG antibodies that develop in most patients within 7 to 10 days after exposure to COVID-19. IgG antibodies remain in the blood after an infection has passed. These antibodies indicate that you may have had COVID-19 in the recent past and have developed antibodies that may protect you from future infection. It is unknown at this point how much protection antibodies might provide against reinfection.
Antibody testing through serum is recommended to be used on patients at least 3 days after onset of symptoms or 7-10 days after exposure/infection with the virus.
Why get tested for COVID-19 antibodies?
- Know your status: Research suggests that many who are infected with COVID-19 show no or mild signs and symptoms of illness, so antibody tests could be useful in determining if you had it without knowing.
- Disease prevalence: Widespread antibody testing could give researchers a better understanding of how many people have been infected and how deadly the virus really is. Researchers can use this data to predict how COVID-19 might affect us in the future, including why some people are more severely impacted than others.
- Prevent further spread: Persons who display evidence of likely current infection, even without symptoms, can be a source of spreading the virus to others, especially to loved ones and within their local community. Identifying if we are infected allows the us to self-quarantine to prevent further spread and to monitor for symptoms in those who have been exposed.
- High risk exposure: Persons with high-risk for exposure such as healthcare workers or individuals who have been exposed to known COVID-19 patients. Testing should be performed at least 7-10 days after exposure to an infected patient. A household contact of a COVID-19-infected patient (confirmed from a positive nasal swab test) would be an example of a high-risk exposure.
- Previous suspicious infection: Persons who had a respiratory tract infection consistent with COVID-19 after December 1, 2019 that was previously undiagnosed.
- Vulnerability: By showing how many people haven’t been infected, the tests provide a picture of who remains vulnerable to the COVID-19 and prevent further spread.
What the test cannot show you:
Immunity: Based on the statement from WHO (World Health Organization), at this time, there is no evidence to suggest that people who have recovered from COVID-19 are immune to catching it again. Therefore, if you receive a positive COVID-19 antibody test result, you should still take proper precautions to prevent further spread of the virus.
Active Infections: If you test negative for COVID-19 antibodies, it doesn’t rule out the chance that you could have an active infection and haven’t built up the antibodies against it yet. This means that you could be spreading the virus to others without knowing it. This is less likely by testing all 3 antibodies such as with the Vibrant America test.
Integrative Medicine of Arizona COVID-19 Antibody Testing
If you live in Phoenix, Arizona or surrounding areas, Integrative Medicine of Arizona is offering COVID-19 antibody testing. To find out if you have had the virus or have been exposed click on the link below to schedule your COVID-19 antibody test.