We have completed maintenance on DiscoverMagazine.com and action may be required on your account. Learn More

What Do COVID-19 Antibody Tests Show — and Can the Results Be Trusted?

The tests are crucial to understanding the full scope of the COVID-19 pandemic. But right now, the results aren’t reliable.

By Jillian Mock
May 22, 2020 3:13 PMNov 3, 2020 5:08 PM
antibody test covid blue background - shutterstock
(Credit: Monika Wisniewska/Shutterstock)

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

Physician Michael Saag has already had COVID-19, and a recent blood test confirmed his antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus are through the roof. But the infectious disease specialist isn’t taking any chances, and still wears full personal protective gear when seeing COVID-19 patients.

“I don’t want to be cavalier and expose myself to people with known infection and get infected again. That would be kind of stupid,” says Saag, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases and director of the Center for AIDS Research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  

0 free articles left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

0 free articlesSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Stay Curious

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and unlock one more article for free.

 

View our Privacy Policy


Want more?
Keep reading for as low as $1.99!


Log In or Register

Already a subscriber?
Find my Subscription

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Shop Now
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2024 Kalmbach Media Co.