Thread by @MAhealthforkids

Been hearing some #COVIDmyths lately.
Here are facts about #COVID #antibodytesting from @CDCgov:

-Don’t use antibody tests to determine a person’s immune status until evidence confirms that antibodies provide protection;how much antibody is protective;&how long protection lasts

Antibody tests can support clinical assessment of COVID illness for people tested 9 to 14 days after illness onset, in addition to recommended virus detection methods such as PCR. This maximizes sensitivity. 2/

Antibody testing can help establish a clinical picture when patients have late complications of COVID-19 illness, such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.3/

Minimize false positive results (antibody tests indicating past infection) by choosing an antibody test w/ high specificity & by testing populations/people who likely had COVID-19 infection.
⬇️
If you tested + during LOW community transmission w/o symptoms➡️high false positive.4/

“We currently don’t have enough information yet to say whether someone will definitely be immune and protected from reinfection if they have antibodies to the virus.”

@CDCgov is DISCOURAGING #COVID antibody testing for those with no COVID history. 5/

Antibodies rise 3-4 weeks after infection.”A higher % of positive results may be false positives when these tests are used in people who live/work in an area where very few people have had COVID-19.”

In states like FL with fewer infections before June,why antibody test?6/

“FDA has authorized #antibody
tests for this virus that have been submitted for their review.But these tests aren’t 100% accurate & some false positive results or false negative results may occur.”

Because the US was unprepared for #COVID19, tests approvals were expedited.
7/

“A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity,”the Red Cross cautioned in a press release.

I’m all for increasing blood donation rates in the US,but the people who bragged they were immune from #COVID based on the Red Cross test were not educated well.8