The holiday season is almost here! Like everyone, you are also planning to visit your family and have a good time throughout the holidays. But before you book your flight and pack your bags, consider booking an at-home Covid-19 antibody test in Houston, TX, to ensure you are immune to SARS-CoV-2. Although the world seems to have recovered from the pandemic, the threat is still there, and taking precautions is better, as there is no cure yet. If you are still uncertain about antibody testing for Covid-19 or have little knowledge, the following will give you more details about it.
What is a Covid-19 antibody test?
The antibody test for Covid-19 detects antibodies specific to novel coronavirus in a blood specimen. The test is typically designed to detect IgG antibodies to nucleocapsid or N protein which is a part of the virus. When you book a covid-19 antibody test with fast results, a lab professional collects your blood sample and sends it to a diagnostic lab. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (CLIA) are used for accurate detection. Alternately, there are ‘point-of-care’ test kits that give results in a few minutes. These kits use Lateral Flow Immunoassays (LFIAs), and their accuracy is unreliable.
What is the difference between a Covid-19 antibody test and a PCR test?
Most people get confused between a Covid-19 antibody test and a PCR test and wonder which test they should consider before traveling to another city or country. While an antibody test measures the host’s immune response to the virus, a PCR test detects the presence of the virus itself. Polymerase Chain Reaction or PCR test is mandatory in many locations to ensure travelers are not carriers of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is a standard tool to diagnose active infection, even in asymptomatic people.
So, if you are traveling to another city or country, you might need to carry a negative PCR test report to show you are not currently infected. You will be asked to isolate yourself for two weeks or more if the test result is positive. It’s recommended to consider antibody testing for covid-19 in Houston as well. As it will ensure you are immune to the virus.
Why should you consider an at-home covid-19 antibody test in Houston, TX?
An antibody test identifies people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus but recovered. Taking a test before travel is wise because it will also identify whether or not you have antibodies and, therefore, are susceptible to the virus. It’s also possible for previously infected people to show negative results for antibodies. If that happens, they have to be cautious, especially when traveling, to avoid getting infected once again, as their body is not immune to the virus. You can talk to your healthcare provider to learn if an antibody test is right for you.
Like any diagnostic test, the Covid-19 antibody test has limitations. If the test is performed within two weeks of catching the virus or developing symptoms, your test result can be negative, as your body may not have developed antibodies yet. Similarly, your antibody levels may decrease over time and show negative results in your test report.
Book your antibody testing for covid-19 in Houston, TX, before your travel to know if you are immune to the virus!
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