Antibody tests

Shielders, NHS and care workers should have antibody tests to see if we've already had Covid-19 without any drastic symptoms or consequences. Locking down shielders, elderly and other 'vulnerable' folk while the rest of the country gets on with life is unjust - quite a lot of us work (or used to pre-shielding). After an antibody test, everyone could make their own decisions about the risks they take in everyday life. While I realise that having antibodies doesn't prove immunity to future infection, if a vulnerable person has antibodies it shows they've had the disease without even realising it and it would be reasonable to assume if they got it again it would be no worse.

Why the contribution is important

Shielders in particular have been told we're at risk of serious illness if we contract Covid-19. Some of us may well have already had it before lockdown/shielding but with such mild symptoms we didn't notice. Antibody tests would show one way or the other and allow us to go back to work while taking the same precautions as everyone else to avoid infection but without the worry.

by SheilaB on October 05, 2020 at 09:16PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.4
Based on: 19 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Graemeheather October 05, 2020 at 22:13

    Would definitely think this is something that should be looked at. You’ve covered a couple of the potential challenges in your piece. If this is not being fast tracked, I’d like to understand why not.

  • Posted by JackDemetriou October 05, 2020 at 22:14

    I do think that healthcare workers, should be able to get free Antibody tests through the NHS, but I disagree 100% with isolating the old and vulnerable and letting everyone else go back to normal

  • Posted by GSS October 06, 2020 at 08:21

    Antibody tests should be available to anyone but especially those in blanket 'vulnerable' groups like those born before an arbitrarily decided date who actually may not be vulnerable at all

  • Posted by ydougan October 06, 2020 at 08:35

    I think anyone who would like an antibody test should get one. It would also give the government an idea of how much community immunity the country has.

  • Posted by netherlee October 06, 2020 at 20:32

    My understandng is we don't know enough about the antibodies as yet? My understanding is the the testing of T cells is much better- but ore expensive. Would appreciate a scientific view on this please.

  • Posted by QuantumT October 11, 2020 at 15:57

    I am sure science will show this can be caught more than once just like colds or flu. Agree T-cells a better measure than antibodies.
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