I haven’t kept up with this thread lately so I apologize if this has been discussed recently, but what’s the latest thought on antibody test reliability? I know initially it was pretty shaky but my wife and I have been discussing giving blood and are curious about the antibody test that comes with it.
I think it’s a gimmick. It’s not sensitive enough from what I know to be conclusive. Additionally if it’s been several months since exposure I don’t believe the test will pick up the antibodies as they tend to fade over time. That’s my perception of the Red Cross test but others may know more. But hey it’s free for blood donors. Mine was negative for what it’s worth.
The Red Cross was who I was aiming for, and figure donating blood is the real benefit anyway. But I’m in a high risk job and am just curious what it would show with the holidays and everything coming up.
Yea I am not sure how much it’s “worth” but it was interesting enough that I made a separate appointment at a Red Cross donation site to see what it would be. Others might know more about the specific test but I don’t think they have put much documentation online about it.
Even if you have antibodies they currently are not sure how long they last and once gone T cell stuff is up in the air (although the logical assumption is that a second infection would likely be milder.) I really don’t see the value in antibody testing is unless you are getting tested regularly for them but then again, even if you do have them I do not think anyone should be changing their behaviors out of an abundance of caution.
The value of antibody testing right now is for population level surveillance, not individual decision making.
Here in Birmingham a lot of the people I know that have caught COVID are pretending that that basically makes them invincible. Plus then they are really assholes about not wearing masks, etc.
Friend of mine caught it a second time, and has zero symptoms. Looks like I won't even be able to see my friends that have had this shit until this is over now
it likely protects them from more severe disease if they were to get it again. it doesn't necessarily keep them from spreading it if they were to be re-infected. that we just don't know.
My friends are still going out and never really stop unless they catch it. Then they get right back out to the bars.... I'm just gonna keep my distance. It will be a good chance to just focus on myself for a while.
Think he gets tested for his job. Got a couple of friends like that including one that works for the WWE. That one has some how managed to never get it. Which I have no idea how because he's more reckless than all of us.
Wonder if he'll develop symptoms at all again, but that's scary in that we'll be spreading the shit out of this virus even if people are feeling fine.
Right, I could trust my friends not to let me come hang at their place or grab a drink at an outdoor bar if they're feeling anything at all. But to be asymptomatic...... At that point it's not their fault. They just don't know and he wouldn't have known if he didn't have to get tested.
I noticed I was starting to be one of those people. We were at Top Golf on Saturday and I kept trying to pull my mask down. My buddy explained to me I was being an asshole. After being safe and responsible for 7 months, I slipped up and got sloppy. It was a nice wake up. And seeing this post reminded me to be responsible and not an asshole.
I am pretty liberal about it outside if I'm able to distance a bit. But yes, easy to get sloppy about it, and glad your friends are real friends. There are a lot of people I know that I just won't visit with until this is over because they'll be dicks about it if I express a request like that. I've got four kids and a wife who teaches: I don't need that drama.
Thanks for sharing that, I actually tried to see if AstraZeneca was resuming in the US (they had resumed in the UK) and there hadn't been an update since late September.
https://www.statnews.com/2020/10/06/astrazeneca-covid19-second-dose-trial-vaccine/ As of 6 days ago they hadn't resumed in the U.S. but had everywhere else worldwide. But they only started enrolling in the U.S. 3 weeks before the hold anyways so little impact.
Here is a really good article summarizing why this is to be expected and dealt with. It’s part of the reason there are so many of these trials running right now. https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2020/10/13/another-vaccine-trial-halt Apparently the J&J CEO said they don’t quite know if the person suffering the illness is in the control group or treatment group.
And my cousin tested positive for COVID on Saturday. JFC. I’m so glad Indiana is in Stage 5 where all restrictions are lifted.
i was in Indy the last four days, STUNNED at how much better the mask wearing and overall compliance was compared to Texas. Felt pretty dang safe tbh.
The Lilly antibody study was just paused for safety concerns. Ya know, the one they submitted the EUA for a few weeks ago and Trump has been touting alongside the Regeneron product.
Wisconsin DHS: Record 3,279 new COVID-19 cases, 34 deaths 147 hospitalizations are also a new record 30k active cases
I was curious and wanted to waste time at work so: AZ is 44th in tests per capita, 11th in cases per, and 9th in deaths per. Only FL has a worse combo imo (43/4/12 with the deaths number being pretty inaccurate as we previously saw reported).
Just had 4 firefighters test positive up here in Grand County. Suspicion is they all went to the same wedding.
They had firemen strippers at the wedding itself? I guess bachelorette parties have had to cut back a little so combining the events makes sense.
Florida is probably going to pass Michigan today in deaths/million and will pass Illinois by the end of the week to hop into the top 10 of deadliest covid states. Georgia and South Carolina aren't far behind.
Mississippi not doing well. Many NE states are up around 1700 deaths/M. Horrible. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/
Haha just kidding John Yackel, a WIGOP small-town judge/Scott Walker crony, struck down Governor Tony Evers' order limiting capacity and public gatherings. Arguably one of Wisconsin's largest lobby groups, the Tavern League of Wisconsin, is behind this lawsuit.
well my fiance and i were going to go out to eat tonight for the first time since the pandemic began. had heard good things about a restaurant that sits out on the water, has a real nice patio where you can easily sit socially distanced. was just checking the website and they announced this afternoon that they're closed because one of their employees tested positive for COVID. so 1) that sucks 2) glad we didn't try and go at the end of last week. just a bummer