Thread by @DrDenaGrayson

👏🏼GREAT NEWS! A new type of test detects T-cell response to the #coronavirus, which may be a better indicator of immunity and clinical outcome than antibodies.

Antibodies can wane, but people may remain IMMUNE to the virus due to T cells.

@apoorva_nyc
nytimes.com/2020/11/10/hea…

Researchers analyzed samples from 2,200 people in Vo #Italy, which tested all 2,900 residents for the #coronavirus in March when cases were soaring. The T-Detect test correctly identified 97% who had a confirmed diagnosis vs. only 77% from a commercial antibody test.💉

#COVID19

T cells specific to a virus can be difficult & expensive to detect via traditional methods. Adaptive Technologies cleverly designed a test to detect T-cell receptors that recognize the #coronavirus – all made possible by the advent of fast and inexpensive sequencing technologies.

~5% of severely ill #COVID19 patients have a “tremendous drop” in T-cell responses, whereas for most, T-cell responses peak at Day 10 and persist for many months: “We’re seeing an earlier, a more robust & even a more durable T-cell response as opposed to the antibody response.”

NOTE: These data have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

The test, if authorized by FDA, would be the first commercial product to detect T-cell responses to the #coronavirus and could be a valuable tool to track immunity.👩🏼‍🔬🦠

#COVID19