New Research at UCI says COVID-19 MAY BE nearly 7 times more prevalent in O.C. than previously thought. Their study suggests that 11.5% of residents have antibodies in contrast to previous estimates of < 2%. But how does this help us and for how long are we immune after an infection?
We don’t know.
I tested positive for a past infection in mid-October. Like other scenarios, no one else in my family tested positive for a past infection. I retested as negative one week later and negative again 2 weeks later.
So now what? I act like I never had it. The local Quest Medical Director agreed that COVID19 antibody tests are not scrutinized to the same level as other antibody tests. They were released early for use for COVID19 monitoring. Luckily, the University of Washington did a study on the accuracy of the Abbott test. "We tested 1,020 serum specimens collected prior to SARS-CoV-2 circulation in the United States and found one false positive, indicating a specificity of 99.90%." So my positive antibodies were likely real but a short lived phase. I have no way to know when I had the infection and nothing left to show for it.
All you need to remember:
- Nasal PCR- positive is positive for a recent infection.
- Nasal PCR - negative may have missed a real infection. Follow the Symptom Tree Flier above if you were exposed or having symptoms.
Everything else needs to be sorted out.... and I promise to get back to you with any news on this front.