Andrew Chuma 😎doctorchuma.com
“Eat well, Move more, Love more & Stress less” Dean Ornish MD
“Do the best you can, until you know better. Then when you know better, do better” Maya Angelou
Begin forwarded message:
From: Rodale Institute <info@rodaleinstitute.org>
Date: May 15, 2020 at 10:01:47 AM EDT
To: Andrew <andrewchuma@gmail.com>
Subject: Your Victory Garden awaits! 💪
Reply-To: <us20-6667ee42f6-bf6a0fcb8e@inbound.mailchimpapp.net>
I had a positive Covid-19 test!
Before anyone freaks out, I just had the antibody (blood) test which measures my exposure to SARS-Cov-19, not the swab which measures the presence of the virus. My test actually involved a simple finger stick. My results indicate that I was exposed to or infected with the virus at some point in the past.
I had the test because it was offered to healthcare workers in our area.
I did not have, nor have I ever had, any concerning symptoms, but I’m out in the world, seeing patients and, early on in this pandemic, I was exposed to someone with pneumonia on whom i had to do a procedure in the ER. At that time, they were not testing patients unless they had a very strict set of symptoms, which the patient did not have. The pneumonia was diagnosed by accident. Today, he would have most certainly have been tested.
My tests specifically indicated that my IgM antibodies (the early phase ones) were negative and the IgG antibodies (late phase ones) were positive.
Below is a summary of the tests and the timing of antibody formation.
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Molecular (Swab) Test
This test uses a long swab to collect material, including physical pieces of the virus, from the back of the nose where it meets the throat. Other sources include saliva and mucus from the lungs. A positive result indicates that viral genetic material is present. This however is not necessarily indicative of live virus, since the test can also identify broken down genetic material which occurs as the virus dies. A negative result indicates that the SARS-CoV2 virus that causes the COVID-19 disease was not found. It is possible to have a very low level of the virus in the body with a negative test result (a false negative). The estimates are that about 30% of these molecular tests are false negative, meaning that the test does not identify the virus when it is really there. In scientific parlance, it has poor sensitivity. If it is positive, it it very likely to be positive (meaning low level of false positive or specificity)
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Antibody (Serology) Test
This is a blood test, or as in my case a finger stick test) which detects antibodies (IgG and IgM) against the virus. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system in response to an infection and are specific to that particular infection. These tests have fewer false positives (meaning that if you are positive, it is very likely you had it) and very rarely false negatives.
IgM, also called “early phase” antibodies, are usually the first antibodies produced by the immune system when a virus attacks. They form very quickly, usually within a couple of days, of infection and disappear as the infection runs its course. A positive IgM test indicates that you may have been infected and that your immune system has started responding to the virus.
IgG antibodies develop in most patients within 7-10 days after symptoms of COVID-19 begin. IgG antibodies remain in the blood after an infection has passed. These antibodies indicate that you may have had COVID-19 in the recent past and have developed antibodies that may protect you from future infection. It is unknown at this point how much protection antibodies might provide against reinfection.
No test if foolproof, including the antibody tests. Many have been out there with various degrees of accuracy. Some were reacting to other much more common coronaviruses, confusing test results. In addition, I was told that some vitamins may interfere with results but I have not found out much about this in my research.
SO what does it mean for me?
Not too much.
If I have had exposure, and this provides some measure of protection, then great but I am not relying on that. We are not sure if having been infected is in any way protective. Having had Lyme disease with positive antibodies, provides no protection from re-infection. I still plan to be as careful as possible, if for no other reason than not to infect others.
Having some immunity does not mean that if I touch a contaminated handle that the virus is killed from my skin instantaneously. It can still get into my nose and replicate although maybe for a shorter period of time since my immune system might kick in faster.
We just don’t know yet.
There are at least 13 private companies and governmental bodies working on different vaccines. This interest and speed is unprecedented but we are still at least 6-12 months away, with no guarantee of success.
So, in the meantime, we do need to start opening up but we need to do so in a measured way. Keep wearing your masks. Wash your hands, Socially distance. Enjoy your families anyway you can. And, carry on.
Stay safe and be well.
AC 😎✌️🌱❤🐖🏃🏻🧘🏻♂️🌎😷