COVID-19 (IgG/IgM) Rapid Screening Test
Dr. Gunwant Dhaliwal is an internist practicing in New Port Richey, FL. Dr. Dhaliwal specializes in the medical treatment of adults. Internists can act as a primary physician or a consultant to a primary physician. They manage both common and rare diseases. Dr. Dhaliwal provides comprehensive care and manages treatment... more
There are different methods of testing for the COVID-19 coronavirus. The most standardized test is by PCR in the lab that takes a couple of days. The other is to check antigen in the nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swab or otherwise IgG/IgM antibodies in finger stick blood. The last test of checking antibodies in a finger stick is a screening test that is quite sensitive but not specific. When positive, it has to be confirmed by PCR method in the lab from a nasopharyngeal swab.
This antibody screening test (when positive) confirms the presence of antibodies to the COVID-19 coronavirus that indicates the person was exposed to the virus. Such a person, if positive for IgM, can transmit the virus to other people. With IgG being positive, if there are no other clinical symptoms such as fever or shortness of breath, the person is considered immunized and less likely to get the infection again.
Most people with normal immune status fight the virus and produce antibodies. They become immune to the virus and may not catch the disease. More research is still needed. Currently, there are clinical studies to check many medications to treat this deadly disease. One of the common beliefs is that Hydroxycholoroquin and Zithromax may help in fighting the COVID-19 coronavirus. The vaccine may be available by next year. It has been shown that plasma from recovered coronavirus patients can help an ICU patient who is struggling to live. There are cytokines released by the virus that causes ARDS when patients are intubated to give positive pressure breathing.
In other countries, it is becoming a standard to use this antibody test on all people that want to go to work or in the community. There is a high probability that the U.S. will also institute such a policy to screen all employees to make sure they have antibodies to the COVID-19 coronavirus.
In the future, most of us would show this immunity as for measles, mumps, and rubella, even though we never had any immunizations for them. By the end of the year, it will become a norm to check everybody for COVID-19 antibodies as for MMR.
