More than a year after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, hope is now finally in sight. More people are now getting vaccinated against the disease. If you have been vaccinated, you might be wondering if you already have enough antibodies to protect you especially now that the country is starting to open and go back to normal.
Here’s the good news: you can now get COVID-19 testing at all of our 3 locations specifically to check for COVID immunity. This test is recommended for individuals who recently got the COVID-19 vaccine and/or had been infected in the past.
In this post, your trusted Urgent Care of The Palm Beaches provider gives you a closer look at COVID-19 spike protein antibody testing and how it can help determine if your body has developed immunity against the virus.
To better understand how an antibody test works, you have to first look at how antibodies are developed. Antibodies are proteins that the body’s immune system creates after a person is infected or vaccinated against a virus or disease. They usually develop 1 to 3 weeks after a person gets infected. As such, “protein spike” refers to the spike of antibody proteins in the blood. Antibody tests are designed to detect this spike and identify whether there is a significant amount of antibodies in the individual’s blood.
In the case of COVID-19 antibody testing, it determines if a person has had a previous COVID infection and/or if they have developed antibodies as a result of vaccination. As a result, the individual and their healthcare provider can deduce if they’re immune to COVID-19 and if they can no longer spread the virus.
In general, those who want and need to know if they previously contracted COVID-19 and/or if they have sufficient protection against the virus after getting the vaccine can seek antibody. Specifically, COVID-19 spike protein tests are recommended for the following individuals:
COVID-19 antibody testing is often available through health care providers and laboratories. It’s best to undergo a consultation before having the test done. Your urgent care doctor can evaluate your medical history in relation to any symptoms you may have or had. This way, they will be in a better capacity to recommend COVID-19 antibody testing for you. Furthermore, a consultation is important because this test is not recommended for individuals who are currently unwell.
After the consultation, the doctor or testing center will provide preparation instructions. If the consultation was performed through telemedicine urgent care in Florida, they will tell you where to go for the testing.
To conduct a spike protein COVID-19 immunity test, the healthcare professional will take a blood sample either through the finger prick method or by drawing blood from your vein. Then, the sample will be tested in a laboratory. Results are usually ready within 24 to 48 hours.
If your COVID-19 antibody test comes out positive, it means that antibodies are detected in your blood. This indicates that you likely had COVID-19 in the past even if you didn’t experience symptoms. Remember that a person can contract the virus and remain asymptomatic.
Furthermore, a positive COVID-19 antibody test may also mean that your immune system has already produced sufficient antibodies after getting the vaccine, enough to be detected by the spike protein test.
On the contrary, a negative COVID-19 antibody test result indicates that you do not have antibodies. This means that you may not have had COVID-19 in the past. However, it takes some time for antibodies to develop, so it’s still possible that you may have had the disease only recently. You must also keep this in mind if you just got the vaccine fairly recently. It’s possible that your body is still in the process of developing the antibodies.
Urgent Care of the Palm Beaches is glad to offer COVID-19 spike protein antibody testing in all of our locations. We encourage you to schedule an appointment and consult with one of our doctors who can give you the go signal to undergo COVID-19 immunity testing. You will be asked to visit any of our locations nearest you:
Thanks to advancements in medical science and technology, our health experts, with the help of authorities and citizens, are now able to slowly but surely control COVID-19.
However, we remind everyone that even if you tested positive for a COVID-19 immunity or antibody test, there is no absolute guarantee that you will not get infected again. As studies are still being done, experts are yet to know until when an immunity to COVID-19 lasts. To be safe, everyone needs to continue observing health safety protocols, which includes wearing a mask.
Furthermore, if you or anyone in your family shows symptoms or have been in contact with a COVID patient recently, we recommend getting rapid COVID testing in Palm Beach or PCR covid testing in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and Palm Springs.
To learn more about our services and schedule a visit, contact us. You may also schedule a virtual visit or telemedicine appointment for your safety and convenience.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
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