A coronavirus antibody test that is more than 99% accurate is now cleared for emergency use

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

in the US, easing concerns of false positives that hindered earlier tests

US regulators authorized Sunday emergency use of a coronavirus antibody test that is more than 99% accurate, addressing concerns about high false positive rates that have plagued some of the first tests.

The test is made by Roche, a Swiss giant in the pharmaceutical and diagnostics industries. Roche said Sunday it will boost its manufacturing to produce "high double-digit millions per month" of the test.

Antibodies are proteins created by the body's immune system to fight invading threats, like viruses or bacteria. Antibody testing is seen by many as a critical step into reopening the economy. Some have floated ideas of using the tests to issue some form of "immunity passports," which could allow people with the antibodies to return to work.

Roche stated the test has a 100% sensitivity rating and a 99.8% specificity rating, which are significantly higher than some of the first antibody tests that were cleared for use in the US. The results came from using more than 5,000 samples on its test.

https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-antibody-test-more-99-141057975.html

[Iliyah]

1. I do not trust the USA government. . .

[Shermann]

2. Sweet now I can know if I have the antibodies

Do we know how long the antibodies last? No
Do we know what, if any, protection the antibodies offer? No

I may as well have midi-chlorians.

Or is it hydroxy-midi-chlorians?

[Beartracks]

3. Is this useful if antibodies don't automatically mean immunity?

I thought the jury was still way out on that question.

=======

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

4. I think the antibodies just tell if you've been exposed.

We don't know about reinfection yet.

[LiberalArkie]

5. And if having the antibodies means no immunity then everyone is toast.

[Rstrstx]

9. Reports of reinfection appear to be due to testing errors

https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2020/may/03/coronavirus-reinfections-were-false-positives-says-who-technical-lead-video

[mopinko]

6. news update on that- answers from china.

who came out w a report that seeming reinfections were really false positives, and people are apparently immune.

that convalescent plasma seems to be effective is proof enough imho.

[Igel]

10. S. Korea, actually.

But China is the new country that can do no wrong and must be defended against Agent Orange, so let's just assume that they're really the same country.

[mopinko]

11. i think there were cases in both countries.

s korea likely to have more of all things tested, as they are drinking our milkshake on that count.

[mopinko]

7. about fucking time. the crappy quality of some of these tests can only be explained

be corruption and cronyism. if the rest of modern medical science and industry had failed this badly, there only would be about 10M living americans.

[Laelth]

8. This is good news. n/t

-Laelth