Cardiologist Dr. VT Shah, who stayed away from Catholic labs for 11 months, was eager to resume practice after vaccination. A fortnight after taking the first dose on Jan. 20, he did an ascent antibody test at Breach Candy Hospital that was negative. He took the antibody test again after doing the second time on February 20th. “My levels were over 220,” Shah said. “It gave me confidence to resume practice, but I’m still wearing a mask.”
Some health workers use the test to time the second dose of vaccination. The time interval between vaccine doses, particularly Covishield, has been the subject of debate, according to the WHO, according to which the second dose is most effective if taken between 8-12 weeks, while the Ministry of Health of the Union has remained in the minimum gap of four weeks.
Dr. Prince Surana, CEO of Surana Sethia Hospital in Chembur, said: “After the first dose, my rising protein levels increased to 80 U / Ml. If my antibody was not so high, I may have delayed taking the second dose. ”
The lab says they only respond to social demand. “The test will provide us with a lot of data on low, moderate, and high levels of antibodies that can illuminate how much is enough to fight the virus,” said Dr. Nilesh Shah, president of Metropolis Healthcare.
Dr. Anupa Dixit of Suburban Diagnostics said the tests act as a reassurance at the end of two strokes. “The best time to check for antibodies is 15 days after the second shot,” he said.
Some believe the test may be unnecessary and even unreliable. Dr. Sujata Baveja, who heads the microbiology department at Sion Hospital, said not all Covid-19 antibody test kits are reliable.
The U.S. CDC does not recommend antibody testing after vaccination and adds that there is no information on revaccination or additional doses if no antibodies are shown. Covid State Working Group member Dr Rahul Pandit said the neutralizing antibody test can give people a false sense of complacency as they can feel that they can wait before taking the vaccine or the vaccine. second dose. According to immunologist Dr. Mukesh Desai of Wadia Hospital sometimes patients have higher protective T cells, although their antibodies may be undetectable. “Once the effectiveness of the vaccines has been established, what’s the point of doing an antibody test?”