Antibodies play a critical role in the immune system’s defense against infection and disease. An antibody is a unique protein produced by the immune system in response to foreign molecules, such as those found in or on viruses and other pathogens. Antibodies recognize and bind to the foreign molecule, and in the case of viruses, prevent infection and/or inform the immune system to destroy the virus.

Testing your blood will help determine if you have antibodies against the virus that causes COVID-19. Although the virus is still relatively new, and additional research is needed, having antibodies against COVID-19 may indicate some level of immunity. The results, along with other information, can help your healthcare provider make an informed recommendation about your care as well as help limit the spread of COVID-19 to your family and others in your community.

Antibody tests are critical to understanding how widespread COVID-19 has been in a community.

You might want a COVID-19 antibody test if:

• It has been more than 14 days from having a positive test/onset of symptoms (or more than 7 days after symptoms have resolved) and you want to know if you have detectable levels of IgG antibodies.
• You were sick and experienced symptoms of COVID-19 within the past few months and were never tested for COVID-19 with a molecular (nasal/throat swab) test.
• You want to know if you were an asymptomatic carrier of COVID-19.

We do not recommend a COVID-19 antibody test if you are:

• Currently sick or have had a fever within the last 3 days. Instead, please contact a healthcare provider.
• Trying to diagnose an active COVID-19 infection. Instead, please contact a healthcare provider.
• Less than 14 days since onset of symptoms or being tested for and diagnosed with COVID-19.
• Directly exposed to COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

Anyone can be tested for COVID-19 antibodies regardless of prior COVID-19 status as long as symptoms have subsided.  A person could be tested with this test throughout the year to see if they have been exposed to the virus, or if they have developed antibodies since their last test.

The VidaCheck COVID-19 Antibody Test detects a specific class of antibodies called IgGs, which are an immune response of the body and are typically produced about 14 days after symptoms appear or at least 14 days after contact with COVID-19. The immune system typically continues to produce IgG antibodies for months to years after someone has been infected, indicating a level of immunity to the pathogen. The best time to get tested for COVID-19 antibodies is after your body has had time to produce a detectable level of IgG antibodies – at least 14 days after you first noticed symptoms.

VidaCheck uses an ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) produced by Quansys Biosciences to detect the SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. A SARS-CoV-2 protein is attached to the bottom of a plastic plate, then blood from an individual is added to the plate. If the blood contains SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, those antibodies will bind to the protein that was bound to the bottom of the plate. A chemical reaction then takes place that facilitates the detection of those antibodies.

Quansys Biosciences, VidaCheck’s partner, has extensive experience developing antibody tests, like the COVID-19 antibody test, to aid in infectious disease (e.g. Malaria, HIV, and Hepatitis) research. The validation of the COVID-19 test demonstrated accuracy above 99%. Such performance provides high confidence in the results.

A positive antibody test for COVID-19 (the type of test VidaCheck offers) is indicative of a past infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Our antibody test informs you if you had been exposed to the virus in the recent past.

Due to the nature of antibody tests, a positive result may be due to past or present infection with non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus strains, such as coronavirus HKU1, NL63, OC43, or 229E.

A Negative result simply means that you have not produced IgG antibodies. A negative result does not rule out past or present SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly in those who have been in recent contact with the virus. Follow-up testing with a molecular diagnostic should be considered to rule out infection in these individuals.

Results from antibody testing should not be used as the sole basis to diagnose or exclude SARS-CoV-2 infection or to inform infection status

“VidaCheck utilizes the COVID-19 Antibody test developed by Quansys Biosciences which is currently awaiting auhtorization from the FDA on the validation of the process of the VidaCheck Antibody Test. Unfortunately, we do not have a time-frame from the FDA on when these results will be authorized.”

The VidaCheck antibody test is different from the rapid antibody tests, which have been reported in the news to have underperformed expectations of accuracy. The antibody test developed by Quansys Biosciences is built differently and requires highly trained laboratory personnel to perform the analysis. The test utilizes ELISA technology that has been used and trusted for years for its reliability in aiding researchers, universities, and government agencies to perform extensive surveillance studies of entire societies.