Question
Antibody testing for cov-2 depends upon-
| A. |
Viral load |
| B. |
Time of incubation |
| C. | Past infection and asymptomatic |
| D. |
Currently infected, asymptomatic |
Show Answer
|
Correct Answer � C Explanation |
 |
Ans.C. Past infection and asymptomatic
- Serologic tests for antibodies are becoming widely available and have the potential to make widespread testing much faster.
- The presence of antibodies can indicate either that a person is infected or has been infected, and so does not necessarily indicate the presence of a live virus.
- Following infection, IgM is the first antibody class produced, and so is more of an indicator of recent infection than is IgG, which is produced later. IgG tends to persist longer than IgM, and more sensitive to detect than past infections.
- The two antibodies used in most available antibody tests are IgM and IgG. When a SARS-CoV-2 infection occurs, IgM appears to be the first responder, arriving on the scene within a week or so of infection. A second antibody, IgG, generates a more specific and longer-lasting response—but it shows up later, when the viral RNA signal may have already faded away.
- Viral load, also known as a viral burden, viral titre or viral titer, is a numerical expression of the quantity of virus in a given volume of fluid; sputum, and blood plasma being two bodily fluids.
- High viral loads and successful isolation from early throat swabs suggested potential virus replication in tissues of the upper respiratory tract.
