Is it necessary for individuals to do COVID-19 antibody test?

Before answering this question, let's talk about COVID-19 antibody test.

COVID-19 antibody test is a protective immunoglobulin, which will be produced when COVID-19 enters the human body.

At present, antibody testing in COVID-19 is carried out in many places, and 35 yuan is charged each time. Many people are skeptical about this kind of test, fearing that it will be forced to test like nucleic acid.

In fact, antibody testing is not mandatory. If someone wants to know the antibody level in the body, they can do it at their own expense. But for some people, experts suggest that testing is better.

Let's talk about the significance of antibody testing first. After COVID-19 is infected, the body will produce specific antibodies against COVID-19. The level of this antibody plays an important role in preventing COVID-19 from reinfection. For example, we had a large-scale infection before the Spring Festival, and everyone got this antibody. So there are very few infections during the Spring Festival. The acquisition of this antibody belongs to the passive immunity icon, that is, barely infected to produce antibodies.

In addition, COVID-19 vaccine is also used to produce antibodies to prevent COVID-19 infection. The production of this antibody belongs to active immunity. That is to say, in the absence of infection, you should be vaccinated first, so that your body can develop the ability to fight COVID-19 infection.

COVID-19's antibody stays in the body for a short time. According to the current research data, antibodies obtained by COVID-19 infection or vaccination only stay in the body for about 3-6 months. With the passage of time, the antibody level decreased obviously. In other words, the antibody levels we detected are different. If infected or vaccinated earlier, the antibody in the body will be lower and more susceptible to infection.

It should also be noted that this antibody is targeted, which is "a radish and a pit" in popular parlance. The antibody against the original strain has a poor effect on Omicron now, and it is difficult for the antibody in vivo to fight against the mutant strains that may appear in the future, and its effect on Omicron XBB and CH. 1. 1 is also limited. Because the new mutant has super immune escape ability.

Therefore, it can be concluded that even if the existing antibody level is high, it is difficult to receive the due effect of preventing future mutant infection. The significance of testing is not very great.

Moreover, the antibody titer detected now does not mean that it must exist in the future. As time goes on, this decay will be faster and faster.

If testing is necessary, it is recommended to test the following personnel:

It is a group with early infection or long vaccination time. The antibody level of this population may have been low, which can provide basis for the next vaccination. It is a group with low immunity. For people with basic diseases and immunodeficiency, the immunity is obviously low. If the antibody level is also low, it is necessary to strengthen the vaccination of this part of the population, strengthen the protection of specific antibodies, strengthen the management of this part of the population, and strengthen protective measures to reduce the occurrence of infection. It is a high-risk group. Such as medical personnel. There are many opportunities for long-term contact and it is easy to get infected. Strengthen the antibody detection of this part of the population, guide vaccination and improve the level of specific antibodies.