And just like that, I’m now Covid-19 NEGATIVE!!!
A few weeks ago I shared that on a screening for Covid-19 antibodies offered by our county, I was positive for IgG antibodies indicating that at some point I was exposed to the virus. This would not be all that surprising given my line of work but none of my other partners were positive, and one was pretty sick in January and was pretty sure he had it, and none of my family was positive. Curious.
As it turns out, the test used was pretty poor and the county has discontinued the testing service because of significant inaccuracies. Both false positives and negatives.
This second test was done as part of some routine blood work I do and was at a reliable lab. My initial reaction to the negative Covid antibody test was disappointment. I was hopeful that my exposure would provide me some protection and I also wanted to show how one could be exposed and get through it without much difficulty since I never had symptoms. I look at it a different way now.
As we start to emerge from our sequestration, hopefully slowly and in a well controlled manner, I look on my negative test in a positive light. We should be careful, but we should not be afraid to venture out. If I can remain free of infection after 3 months of almost daily exposure to people, including some high risk situations including actual interaction with covid positive patients, then people should be less paranoid about starting to get back to some variation of normal life.
Our emergence should be slow, careful and you should still follow basic protocols such as wearing a mask, any mask including cloth, social distancing, not touching your face and washing your hands. But we should not be completely paralyzed by this virus. Humans evolved as social creatures and interacting is imperative for our physical and mental health.
As far as testing goes, hospitals, formal outpatient facilities and doctors offices are more likely to have an accurate test and if you get a swab, make sure they stick it way back into the back of your nose. If it’s not uncomfortable, it was probably not done correctly! Straight back, horizontal with the ground (not up towards the eyes and brain) and about 2 inches deep!
Stay safe and be well.
AC 😎✌️🌱❤🐖🏃🏻🧘🏻♂️🌎😷