Antibody testing

Are there plans for general public COVID-19 antibody testing?

Why the contribution is important

This would give more data on actual incidence of disease in Scotland. Since not everyone will show symptoms antibody testing could give better data.
Not everyone infected will form antibodies just like some vaccinations but those who do would then form a database of people who could be requested to donate blood samples to treat those who are seriously ill with COVID-19.

by GSS on May 10, 2020 at 01:11PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.8
Based on: 10 votes

Comments

  • Posted by curracoo May 10, 2020 at 13:16

    Antibody testing is needed now.

  • Posted by GSS May 10, 2020 at 13:17

    Completely agree. Thank you for posting comment.

  • Posted by GJBB May 10, 2020 at 13:25

    In the long term antibody testing is far more important than rather spurious and transient antigen testing, so yes this needs to be done asap.

  • Posted by petermuir79 May 10, 2020 at 13:30

    It's a complete national scandal that we done already have nationwide antibody testing.
    Should be done urgently.

  • Posted by maybuds20 May 10, 2020 at 14:08

    Antibody testing of the wider community needed as soon as possible

  • Posted by cbellat May 10, 2020 at 14:08

    Yes, we need these statistics to move forward and make the correct choices!

  • Posted by cnanguy May 10, 2020 at 14:23

    I heard the possible outcomes are:-
    positive means definitely had it
    negative could mean you have had it or not
    Let's get some evidence gathered from this older test in a sample group of people who have been diagnosed/have had symptoms and are sure they've had it.
    Let's do that until the more accurate antibody test developed between Edinburgh and Switzerland can be started en masse. I've read it's nearly ready to be rolled out. Have a drive through service run by the army and least get it started.

  • Posted by JLMBD May 10, 2020 at 15:51

    Of course we need an antibody test and of course everyone should be checked, scientists are working as hard as they can to produce a reliable one. It involves a lot of theory followed by a lot of practice and lab work manipulating proteins and chemicals, followed by a lot of trialling to prove how reliable it is. It can't just be produced by magic. The ones trialled so far are not reliable enough to be rolled out. A false positive means someone stays at home unnecessarily. A false negative is worse, the R value would rocket upwards. Painful as it is to wait science can't produce miracles even if people work 24/7.
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