Thread by @WesElyMD

1/🧵COVID Antibody Lunacy 🌚

Antibodies can NOT be used “rule out” #LongCOVID and should NOT be used to determine if you are immune or if the vaccine “worked.” This perspective in @JAMA_current outlines flaws in such thinking. I review highlights…👇

bit.ly/3ckYFQ0

2/ The FDA already stated we don’t have established thresholds to interpret Antibody tests.

They are NOT usable reliably to see if you were infected (esp after vaccine). The tests are not standardized yet & WHO doesn’t include in #LongCOVID definition.

bit.ly/3ljLpQK

3/ If you’re trying to prove you had COVID or #Vaxx response, don’t fall for $170 direct to consumer testing for routine Antibody checks. It’s not nearly that simple.

EG: #Vaxxed or previously infected people could test negative on some assays despite having immunity.

4/ Antibody levels correlate to a degree with protection, don’t get me wrong, but there is not an identifiable threshold we can pinpoint. You can also have neutralizing antibodies and still get infected.

5/Remember, the goal of #vaccine is to protect you against hospitalization. The Antibody protection lives in your blood. That does NOT stop COVID virus from entering your nose & replicating (asymptomatic infection & test POSITIVE), but it 90-95% stops you from getting real sick.

6/ In any infected group of #COVID19 pts, there are people w Antibody & T cell responses but also between 10% & 30% without such a response. You may be a person w only one or neither, especially if you had asymptomatic or mild #SARSCoV2 infection!

bit.ly/3qLOdcw

7/ LongCOVID: considering #6👆, @Daltmann10 wrote me: “The comparator for #LongCovid analyses should never be PCR or Ab negative, it must be ‘had Covid with full recovery within 4 weeks.’” Again, @WHO definition doesn’t even mention Abs for Long COVID.

bit.ly/2Zb9S2J

8/fin 🔑
# Pandemic #Success: Get triple vaxxed when able, wash your hands, wear a mask when indoors, avoid large group settings. Last week I was invited to a 600-person dinner. Unable to say yes to this. There is ~100% chance someone there was shedding virus. Stay safe!