Regardless of COVID vaccination and past infection status, the real measurement of immunity for COVID is the quantity and quality of antibodies each person has. Researchers at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore are offering a glimpse at how widespread, rapid antibody testing may be conducted in the near future. This new testing methodology is 99.5% effective, is easy to use, works and looks like a home pregnancy test and yields results in 15-20 minutes allowing for mass testing, particularly amongst children, older adults, and other populations resistant to blood draws.
The researchers say this testing may be the easiest, fastest way to determine if someone needs a booster shot. This research is ongoing.
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Two soon-to-be-published studies by researchers at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore are likely to have significant implications for mass COVID antibody testing and large-scale COVID vaccination evaluation and ‘booster shot’ administration.
Researchers from the Sinai Center for Thrombosis Research and Drug Development are using a new point-of-care test that uses either saliva or blood from a fingerstick to differentiate between COVID antibodies created in response to the virus itself vs. antibodies created in response to the vaccines.
The team is also testing the duration and effectiveness of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines and are investigating why some of the vaccinees are developing a rare but serious blood clotting abnormality.This new testing methodology is 99.5% effective, is easy to use, works and looks like a home pregnancy test and yields results in 15-20 minutes allowing for mass testing, particularly amongst children, older adults, and other populations resistant to blood draws. As the world continues to battle COVID-19 along with several widespread variants, this type of widely available rapid testing will keep our communities safe and operational.
The practical applications of this testing can determine:
- Duration of immunity from vaccine and when a booster shot may be required
- If immunity was derived from recent or prior COVID-19 infection or the vaccine
- If vaccinations hold up against several widespread COVID variants
Studies of vaccinated individuals are ongoing and the team at Sinai will continue to publish their findings, which will inform mass testing (perhaps in retail pharmacy locations or even schools) and personalized vaccination boosters in the near future. In addition to providing interviews with the lead researchers, Kevin Bliden, and Paul Gurbel, MD we can provide manuscripts for the two studies on an embargoed basis:
“A New Saliva-Based Lateral Flow SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody Test for mRNA Vaccinations”
“Evolution of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody and IgG Avidity Post Pfizer and Moderna mRNA Vaccinations”
We can also provide visuals of the testing equipment and the testing being administered to patients.
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