am i safe now? Covid-19 concern spurs antibody test in Nagpur | Nagpur News – Times of India

Getting an antibody test done may not serve as an accurate detector every time. (representative image)

Nagpur: IT professional Rushikesh Jeerapure received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the first week of June and was curious to know whether antibodies have developed or not. He went to a private lab and did a kit-based IgG antibody test.
“My result was positive. It cost me Rs 900, but now I am 100% sure that I have antibodies. This extra sense of security is worth paying some money for,” said Jirapure.
Many laboratories where kit-based IgG antibody tests are carried out have increased the number of people coming for the test. These include both – those who have recovered from Kovid-19 and those who have recovered. Many enthusiasts are choosing to test after the first dose or immediately after the second when.
“It is simple kit-based test and hence people are eager to do it. As more people are being vaccinated, the demand for antibody testing has also increased,” said Dr Shailesh Mundhra, Director, Dhruv Lab.
IgG antibodies usually begin to appear two weeks after the onset of infection, once a person has recovered from infection and lasts for several months. In the case of vaccination, it takes two weeks after the second dose for detectable antibodies to develop.
Star Labs director Dr Sandeep Warghade said testing for antibodies could lead to confusion. “Vaccines can create either humoral immunity or cellular immunity in your body. The test can detect humoral immunity, whereas cellular immunity cannot. This can make the person confused whether he has got the antibodies or not,” said Dr Warghade.
“Humor immunity secretes antibodies to fight against antigens, whereas cell-mediated immunity secretes cytokines and not antibodies to attack pathogens. Humoral immunity is intensified or accelerated in action against antigens, whereas Cell-mediated immunity shows delayed through lasting action against any pathogen. Both are effective,” said the experts.
Also, there are many kits available in the market and the results may vary. “There is scope for further standardization in antibody tests. Your test may be negative in one lab on a certain kit, but it may be positive on another kit. Hence, you can always avoid unnecessary testing for antibodies,” said microbiologist Dr Sandhya Nikam.