Mumbai: Covid-vax Beneficiaries Heading for Antibody Testing | Mumbai News

MUMBAI: Spike protein antibody is the new buzzword as vaccinated health workers are on their way to a blood test to make sure the Covid-19 vaccine has done its job. The jury is still out on the need for these tests to detect proteins produced by the immune system to fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but private laboratories last week began offering the tests to the general public as well.

Cardiologist Dr. VT Shah, who stayed away from cath labs for 11 months, was eager to resume practice after the vaccination. Two weeks after taking the first dose on January 20, he took a spike antibody test at Breach Candy Hospital, which came out negative. He took the antibody test again after the second shot on February 20. “My levels were above 220,” said Shah. “It gave me confidence to resume training, but I’m still wearing a mask.”
Some health professionals use the test to time the second vaccination dose. The time interval between vaccine doses, particularly Covishield, has been the subject of discussion with WHO, who say the second dose is most effective when taken between 8-12 weeks, while the Union Ministry of Health maintains it minimum of four weeks.
Dr. Prince Surana, CEO of Surana Sethia Hospital in Chembur, said: “After the first dose, my peak protein level rose to 80 U / ml. If my antibody was not that high, I may have delayed the second dose. ”
Lab says they only respond to social demand. “The test will provide us with a lot of data on low, moderate, and high antibody levels that can shed light on how much is enough to fight the virus,” said Dr. Nilesh Shah, president of Metropolis Healthcare.
Dr. Anupa Dixit of Suburban Diagnostics said the tests at the end of two shots act as a reassurance. “The best time to check for antibodies is 15 days after the second injection,” she said.
Some think the test may be unnecessary and even unreliable. Dr. Sujata Baveja, head of the microbiology department at Sion Hospital, said not all Covid-19 antibody test kits are reliable.
The US CDC does not recommend antibody testing after vaccination and adds that there is no information on revaccination or supplemental doses if one does not show antibodies. Dr. Rahul Pandit, a member of Covid’s task force, said the neutralizing antibody test can give people a false sense of complacency because they may feel like they can wait before taking the vaccine or the second dose. According to immunologist Dr Mukesh Desai of Wadia Hospital, patients sometimes have higher protective T cells, even though their antibodies are undetectable. “Once the efficacy of vaccines has been established, what’s the point of doing an antibody test?”