Covid-19 Antibodies in Recovered Individuals

As with any new illness, a shroud of uncertainty has been one of the calling cards of Covid-19—perhaps even more so because of its rapid ascension to global pandemic levels. As such, researchers have been scrambling since its first emergence in attempts to more thoroughly understand the underlying virus. Through understanding, treatment and even vaccination can occur.

An integral piece of all of these puzzles—from unlocking the mysteries of the virus to discovery and aiding the body’s defensive response—is the possibility of natural antibodies and their effect on re-infection in recovered individuals.

While the potential of such antibodies has always been a sliver of hope, significant testing is needed to confirm their presence, effectiveness, and longevity. A recent study sought to bring clarity to at least the first factor and did so by examining the blood of 285 individuals who were hospitalized with severe cases of Covid-19.

The Study

Conducted by Chongqing Medical University in China, this study analyzed blood samples from 285 severe Covid-19 cases with a specific emphasis on locating antibodies. They looked specifically for two types of antibodies—lgM and lgG.

What they discovered was that every patient developed antibodies to the virus. This occurred over the course of two to three weeks after the onset of their first symptoms. More specifically, lgM was produced in approximately 40-percent of individuals within the first week and 95-percent within two weeks. The other type of antibody, lgG, came later but has the potential to provide sustained immunity to the virus.

To ensure these results were as accurate as possible, the researchers then tested 69 other Covid-19 patients. With the exception of a mother and daughter, all of these patients also developed antibodies within 20 days.

What it Means

Much more testing is required to determine the longevity of these antibodies, how effective they are at preventing re-infection in recovered individuals, and more, but this preliminary research sets the stage for further analysis and provides a glimpse of hope in the midst of the pandemic.

The presence of antibodies in the blood of recovered people also provides an interesting testing opportunity. Rather than looking for the presence of the virus, doctors can look for the antibodies to confirm whether or not someone has been infected. In other words, two unique tests can be determined two different things—whether a patient is currently infected and should be isolated and whether a patient is recovered and potentially immune.