{"id":110435,"date":"2020-05-07T02:01:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-07T09:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dherbs.com\/?p=110435"},"modified":"2022-03-25T01:44:43","modified_gmt":"2022-03-25T08:44:43","slug":"what-does-the-coronavirus-antibody-test-actually-reveal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dherbs.com\/articles\/what-does-the-coronavirus-antibody-test-actually-reveal\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does The Coronavirus Antibody Test Actually Reveal?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Researchers and scientists have been working around the clock to develop tests that detect antibodies against the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in blood samples. Slowly but surely, antibody test are being administered to thousands of people across the country to help determine who has them and who doesn\u2019t. Experts hope that these tests will give them a better understanding of how widespread the virus is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is An Antibody Test?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Also referred to as a serology test, an antibody test looks for antibodies in the blood. When the body encounters an infection or virus, like SARS-CoV-2, it makes antibodies to develop immunity to the virus<\/a>. In reality, the antibody test is not checking for the virus itself; rather, it checks your immune system to see whether or not it responded to the infection. Antibody tests are not the same as diagnostic tests, which are nasal and throat swabs that test for infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do Antibody Tests Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The doctor will prick your finger or obtain blood somehow in order to test for antibodies. When it comes to testing for SARS-CoV-2, doctors test for two types of antibodies, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n