Researchers have been working around the clock to figure out a way to test patients to determine who has been infected with COVID. One particular way they are doing this is by taking blood samples from patients’ and checking their antibodies. In my microbiology class, we learned that once exposed to a pathogen in the early stages, our B cells will divide into plasma cells and release a little bit of the antibody known as IgM. Antibodies are what help us fight off infections by performing actions such as neutralization of pathogens and many other abilities. Because IgM is the first antibody produced before class switching occurs to better antibodies from the help of T helper cells, having an IgM antibody titer means that the patient has not been recently exposed to the COVID pathogen. If, however, researchers find both IgM and IgG in the bloodstream, this would mean that the patient has been exposed to the pathogen and is either in late stages of the infection or has recovered. This being said, if the patient were to test IgG positive, they could either infect others because they are in the late stages of the disease or they have recovered and can no longer transmit the infection. These tests would help determine who is/is not at risk to return to everyday life.
One of the articles I found interesting actually described just how antibody testing could help us fight COVID. There are currently two tests to determine if people have been infected with COVID. The first is a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test that searches for the virus’ RNA by taking a nose swab from a patient. These types of test actually test for active infection. On the other hand, serological tests are blood tests that look for antibodies produced from recent infection. In the article, it was written that “if [COVID-19] antibodies are present when you run the [serological] test, that means [a person] had the infection in the past,” (https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-antibody-testing-can-help-us-fight-covid-19#What-is-an-immunity-test?). This is highly important because tests like these could allow us to go back to normal life. Researchers are currently hopeful that the virus will take years to mutate and we will have the ability to make vaccines more quickly if this happens.
I found similar results in another article. This article from BioSpace explained that “positive results for both IgG and IgM could occur after infection and can be indicative of acute or recent infection” (https://www.biospace.com/article/fda-approves-1st-covid-19-antibody-test/). These antibody tests have been FDA approved and will hopefully be widely distributed soon. These tests would prove helpful because “there is also the potential to use antibodies against the virus for therapy against the disease” (Mark Terry, 2020). Not only would we be able to have a possible vaccine against the virus, but we could use peoples’ antibodies to help others who have not been exposed to build immunity against the COVID pathogen. It is incredible what researchers are currently doing and achieving. Ideas to fight viruses that have never been thought of before are being tested on patients currently and are seemingly working so far. I hope that this virus will take years to mutate or hopefully never mutate, but because of its RNA genome, mutation is likely to happen. All we can do is rely on the scientists and researchers who work day in and day out to provide us with answers and solutions to live healthier lives and ward off COVID-19.
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