4 ms·

I am reasonably certain I had covid in January 2020; felt like I had been hit by a truck, and recovery took weeks. As far as I know, I haven't had it since, bu

I am reasonably certain I had covid in January 2020; felt like I had been hit by a truck, and recovery took weeks. As far as I know, I haven't had it since, but did get the vaccinations. Do you (does anyone here) know if there is a test to see if you did have it, or does the vaccine response swamp that signal?

orra 3y ago
Some blood antibody tests can distinguish between viral induced antibodies versus infection induced antibodies. However, antibodies decrease with time. (We have memory T-cells etc for long term immunity). Whilst I am not an expert, I would be very surprised if virtual induced antibodies were still detectable. What you describe: it is very possible you had COVID, but it is also very possible you had a bad flu. There are other viruses too, like RSV, which used to be rarely mentioned, but at times can be nasty.
- Arete314159 3y ago
  Do you have any more info on this? I have not heard of such a test.
  - orra 3y ago
    Here is an example test which checks specifically for virus induced antibodies: <https://monitormyhealth.org.uk/covid19-antibody-test/ https://monitormyhealth.org.uk/covid19-antibody-test/>. Non-profit Testing for All also used to sell similar tests, but they have stopped operating. In contrast this test does not distinguish between virus and vaccine as the cause: <https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/coronavirus-antibody-test.html https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/coronavirus-antibody-test...>. I don't have a better approach than checking the descriptions of individual antibody tests. But I know the distinction is real, because IIRC the ONS (statistics body) used tests which distinguished, when they ran their ongoing study.
  - boring_twenties 3y ago
    Back then the Red Cross would do free antibody tests for anyone who donated blood. There were two. One could not distinguish between antibodies from an infection vs. vaccine, and came back in a day or two. The other did, and took longer.
op00to 3y ago
I had a similar experience in January 2020, as did my wife. She got an antibody test that indicated she was never infected, so it was probably something else. Who knows? Edited: to be clear we both thought prior to the antibody test that it was covid!
nyokodo 3y ago
> I am reasonably certain I had covid in January 2020 Probably not, there were nasty flu strains circulating then that are much more likely an explanation. It had already spread somewhat, but not enough to be a likely cause until March even in the areas with early outbreaks like Italy and NYC etc. Exponential growth means that not long before everyone has it, the vast majority don’t have it.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
hedgehog 3y ago
I got pretty sick at the end of February 2020 and sent my sample in to the Seattle Flu Study along with the COVID opt-in. As far as I know the test was negative. There are lots of other viruses with similar symptoms that circulate around that time so not unlikely you (and I) had one of those.

orra 3y ago

Some blood antibody tests can distinguish between viral induced antibodies versus infection induced antibodies. However, antibodies decrease with time. (We have memory T-cells etc for long term immunity). Whilst I am not an expert, I would be very surprised if virtual induced antibodies were still detectable. What you describe: it is very possible you had COVID, but it is also very possible you had a bad flu. There are other viruses too, like RSV, which used to be rarely mentioned, but at times can be nasty.

Arete314159 3y ago
Do you have any more info on this? I have not heard of such a test.
- orra 3y ago
  Here is an example test which checks specifically for virus induced antibodies: <https://monitormyhealth.org.uk/covid19-antibody-test/ https://monitormyhealth.org.uk/covid19-antibody-test/>. Non-profit Testing for All also used to sell similar tests, but they have stopped operating. In contrast this test does not distinguish between virus and vaccine as the cause: <https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/coronavirus-antibody-test.html https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/coronavirus-antibody-test...>. I don't have a better approach than checking the descriptions of individual antibody tests. But I know the distinction is real, because IIRC the ONS (statistics body) used tests which distinguished, when they ran their ongoing study.
- boring_twenties 3y ago
  Back then the Red Cross would do free antibody tests for anyone who donated blood. There were two. One could not distinguish between antibodies from an infection vs. vaccine, and came back in a day or two. The other did, and took longer.

op00to 3y ago

I had a similar experience in January 2020, as did my wife. She got an antibody test that indicated she was never infected, so it was probably something else. Who knows? Edited: to be clear we both thought prior to the antibody test that it was covid!

nyokodo 3y ago

> I am reasonably certain I had covid in January 2020 Probably not, there were nasty flu strains circulating then that are much more likely an explanation. It had already spread somewhat, but not enough to be a likely cause until March even in the areas with early outbreaks like Italy and NYC etc. Exponential growth means that not long before everyone has it, the vast majority don’t have it.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

hedgehog 3y ago

I got pretty sick at the end of February 2020 and sent my sample in to the Seattle Flu Study along with the COVID opt-in. As far as I know the test was negative. There are lots of other viruses with similar symptoms that circulate around that time so not unlikely you (and I) had one of those.