Whopping antibodies after 3rd vaccine despite poor response earlier

[vivdunstan]

Crikey. I just got my latest Covid antibody results. After vaccine 2 (AstraZeneca) in April I had 16.4 U/mL. Rather bizarrely that rose to 33.8 U/mL in September, pre vaccine 3. Now after vaccine 3 (Pfizer this time) I have over 2500 U/mL antibodies. Cor! Ok I feel slightly invincible now 😜 But at least I’ll be happier going into a bookshop next week. I’ve taken private tests to get these results, with Medichecks. I have read detailed information re likely ranges, including for immunosuppressed, and I’ll share some links for those in the comments. Anyway just wanted to share a good news story re someone who had very few antibodies after vaccines 1&2 (though I was grateful to have any) but now has a very good number after vaccine 3. So glad I got my 3rd primary vaccine, and that it was Pfizer this time.

Some reference points re ranges, inc for immunosuppressed testingforall.org/understan...

And a more detailed version from the Lancet thelancet.com/journals/lanc...

Re antibody tests, a few people can get them through the NHS. But most who want this need to pay for a private antibody test. Many chemists offer this, including Boots and Lloyds. I opted for Medichecks, a private testing company. They send me a test kit in the post, with instructions to take the blood sample by pinprick. And that is then sent back in the post to the lab. I took my sample yesterday, and it reached the lab in London today (I am in northeast Scotland), with the results this evening. The results aren’t always this quick though.

For reference I am on 2g Mycophenolate Mofetil and 7mg steroids daily. Severely immunosuppressed, so I had a 3rd primary vaccine in late September.

[Nadine99]

hi there sorry to bother you but can you tell me the price range of these tests, glad to hear it seems to be working for you

[vivdunstan Volunteer in reply to Nadine99]

They are available from £40 upwards. I went for a slightly more expensive one, £69, and then used a 10% discount code to lower that further. Sometimes the companies have sales even lower. But I was happy sticking with the company I trusted. It is a shame we need to pay for these, especially those of us who are severely immunosuppressed. But I was lucky to be able to afford it, and for me it was worth it.

[Galaxy2]

That is brilliant news Viv, really pleased for you , a huge relief I’m sure

[123-go]

Brilliant news! What a Superwoman! 😀

[StoicMan]

Hi, I thought I would share my experience with a Covid home anti-body test kit. I used the Lloyds Pharmacy one (see link below) which costs £50. The kit can be quite tricky to use as you need to draw 5-10ml of blood from pin lances in the side of your fingers. The first two stabs barely produced enough blood to wet the bottom of the sample tube and I thought I had wasted my money. The third and final attempt (you get three lances in a kit) I was lucky and hit a capillary and managed squeeze enough blood to make the minimum line. It was enough to get a result back and I was 162 U/mL after two AZ jabs (at the time I was on 15mg of Methotrexate weekly). I was going to buy another test kit after my booster jab and if I do so I will try to buy more finger lances at the same time.

onlinedoctor.lloydspharmacy...

[vivdunstan Volunteer in reply to StoicMan]

I’ve done a few now. I recommend drinking liquid beforehand, wearing gloves for at least 10 minutes, then a little brief arm swinging or aerobic exercise if you can manage it. The ring finger is recommended to get the blood out of. I find lancing the very end works best, not the side. This last time I needed to go for my pinkie finger too, again stabbing the very end of it. Best of luck for the booster!

[2013mayo]

Hi, Lucky you, I don’t know how my antibodies are re vaccine but my husband who has common variable immune deficiency has tested negative for anti bodies after 2 jabs. He’s been told the infusion (immune globulin ) he has weekly eventually will have antibodies in it. Not really sure where that leaves us at present.

Take care.

X

[EGPAGuy]

Hi Viv. I had my 3rd jan last Monday...recorded 380 on medichecks whilst on 3g myco and 10 pred. Going to do again Monday week. Currently on mepo and 12.5 pred. Hoping for same jous response