4 ms·

You can get antibody tests now to find out.

negativegate 5y ago
If you've also been vaccinated is it possible to distinguish that? Edit: I suppose in this case they could test prior samples, but if you don't have any, you're out of luck?
- numpad0 5y ago
  I wonder if it’s theoretically possible to construct a historical timeline of immunity development for an individual by taking multiple tests, sounds like a proper forensics work than something to do just out of curiosity.
- mattzito 5y ago
  I know this! It depends on the antibody test - if you can get a test for the nucleocapsid antibodies, that will determine whether you had the disease or not. People who are vaccinated will test positive for the spike protein, but will not test positive for the nucleocapsid antibodies, at least with the vaccines currently available (I believe there are vaccines in development that target both proteins, but not yet available). Some antibody tests target spike or nucleocapsid, some target both, so you need to check which tests they are using and verify what it tests against (or ask your doctor to order a specific test that checks for the nucleocapsid antibodies). I learned this when I was part of a vaccine study and was curious to know whether I had gotten the vaccine or the placebo, and was able to use a spike antibody test to confirm that I was in the vaccine group.
baseballdork 5y ago
Donate blood with the red cross and they'll test for antibodies. I had a miserable flu-like illness over Christmas '19. It's probably the sickest I had ever been in my life. When the publicity started blowing up over the pandemic, my dad suggested that maybe I had caught it while I was traveling for job interviews in the previous weeks and months. I eventually donated blood in 2020 and sure enough, I tested false for antibodies. I've donated twice since, and the first was negative. Waiting to see what the next one says since I've been vaccinated.

If you've also been vaccinated is it possible to distinguish that? Edit: I suppose in this case they could test prior samples, but if you don't have any, you're out of luck?

numpad0 5y ago
I wonder if it’s theoretically possible to construct a historical timeline of immunity development for an individual by taking multiple tests, sounds like a proper forensics work than something to do just out of curiosity.
mattzito 5y ago
I know this! It depends on the antibody test - if you can get a test for the nucleocapsid antibodies, that will determine whether you had the disease or not. People who are vaccinated will test positive for the spike protein, but will not test positive for the nucleocapsid antibodies, at least with the vaccines currently available (I believe there are vaccines in development that target both proteins, but not yet available). Some antibody tests target spike or nucleocapsid, some target both, so you need to check which tests they are using and verify what it tests against (or ask your doctor to order a specific test that checks for the nucleocapsid antibodies). I learned this when I was part of a vaccine study and was curious to know whether I had gotten the vaccine or the placebo, and was able to use a spike antibody test to confirm that I was in the vaccine group.

baseballdork 5y ago

Donate blood with the red cross and they'll test for antibodies. I had a miserable flu-like illness over Christmas '19. It's probably the sickest I had ever been in my life. When the publicity started blowing up over the pandemic, my dad suggested that maybe I had caught it while I was traveling for job interviews in the previous weeks and months. I eventually donated blood in 2020 and sure enough, I tested false for antibodies. I've donated twice since, and the first was negative. Waiting to see what the next one says since I've been vaccinated.