New reports this morning of a 100% accurate anti body test. Wonder if this may be an option out of shielding for some of us, but expect because we are shielding that we will be the last to be offered it.
I had something at the very start of this that did not present with the classic covid symptoms at that time, but now suspect it may have been. Husband had it too- so knowing could give him some freedom back too.
My daughter and her husband had something that could have been Covid in early February, possibly caught on a flight to London from Innsbruck, probably carrying infected skiers from Tirol. She is NHS but shielding as she is high risk so a test would mean she could possibly return to work. It is possible that some shielding people MAY have had it - although having antibodies won't mean you can be certain you are now immune, nor is it clear how long it might last.
Is that a different form of test to the oft quoted PCR test?
the inventor of this test and Nobel prize winner Kary Mullis said it should not be used for diagnosis. Hmmn when there are so many false positives.
The Tanzanian president reported that random non human samples were tested using the PCR tests resulting in a goat and a papaya fruit testing positive for covid19. He holds a doctorate in chemistry.
Any test has to be proven effective for there to be public confidence.
Unless there is coercion to have a procedure which goes against the Nuremberg codes.
Something developed by Roche in Switzerland apparently that they have trialled and gives 100% accuracy.....
I just hope they don't mess this up like they have done with testing for the virus. It should be available everywhere, no need to drive mils to a 'drive thru test centre' and there should be no criteria to have it. Everyone, no matter age, job or health should have it. Those that have the anitbody are immune from it and can go into society. Periodically keep testing those that haven't got it.
It also means, we will finally have true numbers as to how many have had it. No more figure manipulating and guesswork.
Hi Ceri - totally agree we should all have access, but guessing they don'thave enough yet? Sadly they say they cannot be sure people are immune if they have had the virus.... which isn't great obviously : bbc.co.uk/news/health-52656808 . Hope you are doing ok x
They have said that the testing will begin with key workers which I think is totally understandable. They cannot produce enough for everyone to be tested at the same time, so the first tests go to key workers. The aim is to test everyone eventually as this will give a good idea of how the illness is progressing and where hotspots are.
But as DJK says it is not yet known if having the antibodies will make you immune, it may not, and as was also said yesterday, even if you do get some immunity they don’t know how long that immunity will last for.
I think knowing the true numbers of who has sadly died from the virus is much less important than safeguarding the rest of the population. We already know that sadly it’s a large number, as it is in many countries around the world. What we really need most of all are a vaccine and a treatment.
Hi Sasha - yes, just read that. Great news. But how long it will take to get to us and the general public is anybody's guess. I had something very similar in Jan/Feb too (nasty!) but I had a swab test and they checked for viral or bacterial and think it came back negative so that's a shame! I guess they will want to prioritise people getting back to work so maybe we would be the last(ish) peeps on the list. Be great if they could get a move on! ;). Hope the water going well! x
According to an interviewee on BBC this morning, although the test may be highly accurate with regards to whether you have been infected, there is a danger that this may not mean you are immune from further infection. In particular, those who experienced a mild COVID infection may test antibody positive, but may not be immune if subjected to a stronger challenge. x
In total agreement with you and although I think it is good news that this test has been made, I think it dangerous for the media to hype it up.
We know so little about this never before been virus.
Antibodies don't necessarily mean immunity as you have pointed out.
I'm getting annoyed at the media getting ahead of the science. I think some reporting has been irresponsible leading to people being less stringent with taking precautions.
Absolutely. It's hard to listen to a lot of the news coverage as I end up in a rage at people who seem to think being able to go on holiday, to play golf or basketball (!!!) or go to garden centres, should take priority over people's lives. And the government seems to want to please them all with their vague and ill thought through "advice". x
Yup!
I’m in total agreement with you! The media have been appalling all the way through this. They have been more interested in having a go at the government when now is not the time. We can hardly have a change of government at the moment even if they have been slow in their handling of the crisis. They have also been pressurising for lockdown easing when, as you say, it should have been left to science. Perhaps they are desperate for something new to put in their headlines, or perhaps the writers are all young and think they are not at any risk from the illness, but it is very irresponsible to say the least
Apparently they are unlikely to be available to people like us any time soon. Two laboratories have no produced an antibody test that has been NHS approved, but the govn. has not ordered any.
Hi Sasha 
I wouldn't give up shielding because of this!!
Personally, I think you should stay at home as long as possible, until more news is about and less infections of Covid-19 !
Bev xxx
I guess I’m just looking for some light at the end of the tunnel - it offered a glimmer of hope. I’d been at home signed off from work 8 weeks before this started so this is starting to feel like a prison sentence with no release date....
I understand that, I've been isolating since February 14th and it's getting a bit heavy now, I am becoming lethargic..... I do have a garden though, which makes all this bearable...but I don't think I shall leave my house until someting better appears on the Covid-19 horizon, but I do need to get to hospital.....I hope you have a good Friday and a great weekend, the weather is promising!
Hug, Bev xxx
Would be nice to know me and my husband had flu like symptoms over Christmas that lasted two weeks, with the second week giving us an annoying persistent cough.
I'd like to think we have had the first and mild strain of this virus but until we get the anti body test you just can't chance it
Information sent out from Leeds chapel Allerton rheumatology 
Daughter's Facial Rash - Update
Newly positive S.L.E. test
