Important information about COVID-19 antibody testing
This COVID-19 Antibody Test can detect antibodies from a prior or recent infection, regardless of whether symptoms were present. Positive results may also occur after a COVID-19 vaccination, but the clinical significance is not yet known, nor is it known how good this test is at detecting antibodies in those who have been vaccinated. Alternatively, a nucleocapsid test can only detect antibodies from a prior or recent infection.
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After a natural infection, current research shows that it may be best to get antibody testing 3 to 4 weeks after symptom onset or known exposure to COVID-19 to increase the opportunity to detect an immune response.
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After vaccination, it is not yet known how long it takes to develop antibodies. Antibody testing for the purposes of vaccine decision-making is not currently recommended by the CDC.
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If you test too soon, your body may not have produced enough antibodies to be detected by the test, which can lead to a false negative result. This test can sometimes detect antibodies from other related coronaviruses you may have been exposed to, such as a virus that causes the common cold. This can cause a false positive result.
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This test should not be used to diagnose an active COVID-19 infection. If an active infection is suspected, molecular or antigen testing is recommended. Learn more about our QuestDirect COVID-19 Active Infection Test.
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A negative antibody test result means that antibodies were not detected in your blood sample. This can have several possible meanings. It could mean that:
- You have not been infected with SARS-CoV-2, or
- You have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, but your antibodies have not reached a sufficient level for the test to be able to detect them, or
- You have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, but there has not been enough time for antibodies to develop (it can take up to 1 to 3 weeks to develop antibodies after someone is infected, sometimes longer).
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A positive antibody test result means that antibodies were detected in your blood sample. This can have a couple of possible meanings. It could mean that:
- You have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 at some point in the past, or
- Uncommonly, you may have developed antibodies from an earlier infection with a different virus related to SARS-CoV-2 and the laboratory test cannot distinguish between these other virus antibodies and those antibodies generated in response to SARS-CoV-2.
Learn more about the CDC’s antibody testing guidelines.
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COVID-19 testing statements
- The antibody tests, molecular tests, and antigen tests (together “All tests”) have not been FDA cleared or approved;
- All tests have been authorized by FDA under EUAs for use by authorized laboratories;
- The antibody tests have been authorized only for the detection of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens;
- The COVID-19 molecular tests have been authorized only for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens;
- The COVID-19 and Flu test has been authorized only for the simultaneous qualitative detection and differentiation of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, influenza A virus, and influenza B virus, and not for any other viruses or pathogens; and
- COVID-19, Flu, and RSV test has been authorized only for the simultaneous qualitative detection and differentiation of nucleic acids from SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, influenza B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and not for any other viruses or pathogens;
- The antigen tests have been authorized only for the detection of proteins from SARS-CoV-2, and not for any other viruses or pathogens; and
- All tests are only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner.
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About the FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) Status
This test has been authorized by the FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). This means that while Quest Diagnostics has validated the test and has the data to believe the test and the collection kit are accurate, this test has not been FDA cleared or approved; This test has been authorized by FDA under an EUA for use by authorized laboratories; this test has been authorized only for the detection of IgG Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens; and, this test is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use on in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(B)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360BBB-3(B)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner. Additional studies need to be conducted for this test and others like it to be FDA cleared or approved.
