22 January, 2021
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to unfold there is a growing interest in antibody testing and its benefits. Antibody tests are used to detect the presence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 to determine if it’s likely that an individual has had the virus and recovered, this test method is believed to be the best way to assess past exposure to the virus.
The key benefits to antibody testing are:
- Determining if antibodies are present allows for further research to be conducted into potential periods of immunity post infection and how long this could last.
- Experts can gain a deeper insight into how the virus works and spreads throughout the population whilst adding to the overall statistics of the percentage of the population that have been infected.
- Allows individuals to determine if they have had the virus whilst potentially being asymptomatic, this is particularly important for people who are at high risk of contracting the virus due to underlying health conditions or occupation.
The Test of Choice
Fortress Diagnostics Fast Antibody Tests are currently being used in the REACT (Real Time Assessment of Community Transmission) study, led by the Imperial College London. It is the first nation-wide antibody surveillance study to be rolled out across England using self-testing at home.
The knowledge gathered from the study will be essential in helping identify those at greater risk while also helping guide public health responses to controlling the disease.
For more information on tests relating to SARS-CoV-2 email info@fortressdiagnostics.com
