Not sure about infection, scores opt for antibody test

KOLKATA: In mid-May, Bhowanipore resident Vijay Agarwal had suffered from fever, throat irritation and body pain. Prior to that, the tourand-travel operator had been out on the street regularly as a volunteer of an NGO, distributing masks, sanitizers and face shields to Covid warriors. Agarwal immediately moved into home isolation but did not get a test done. A couple of days ago, Agarwal got his Covid antibody test done from a private lab and he tested positive, which means he had been infected and has already developed antibody.
Like Agarwal, an increasing number of Kolkatans are getting their antibodies checked from private labs, some out of curiosity, some due to concern and some just to be sure that they have already been infected.

“My symptoms were really mild. In about three to four days, the symptoms were gone and I did not go for a Covid test despite spending almost two weeks on isolation,” said Agawral. A few days ago, he came to know from friends that a Covid antibody (igG) test was being done by a private laboratory.
“I booked an appointment for home collection on Tuesday. I got the report the next day, confirming I am positive to the antibody,” said Agarwal. A rapid antibody test conducted in select areas under KMC as part of ICMR’s project of sero-survey a few months showed about 17% people having developed that antibody, which means they had been infected at some point or the other. But unlike the sero-survery project where it was using rapid test, the antibody check that individuals are undergoing now is the ELISA test.
“Whether this antibody will protect the person from getting infected by the virus again, what is the level of antibody required for that protection and how long will the immunity last are all subject to more studies, assessments and evaluations,” said paediatric intensivist Prabhas Prasun Giri of the Institute of Child Health.
“But if a person is positive to the antibody, s/he had been infected at a certain point of time with mild symptoms,” Giri added.
“I have been going out regularly to distribute safety kits, relief material and tree plantations after Amphan. Therefore, it is possible that I have already been exposed. So, I am planning to get my antibody checked with certain things in my mind, like plasma donation,” said Hazra resident Ajay Mittal, an NGO volunteer.