Re:Coronavirus is most deadly if you are older and male – ne...
by ahelwer on Friday August 28, 2020 @10:43AM
(#24305446)
If you're in the USA, Red Cross is giving free coronavirus antibody tests when you go donate blood so they can get more convalescent plasma donors. I was very mildly ill a couple weeks back (wasn't worth getting tested at the time with 6-10 days turnaround) so I've scheduled my appointment to donate blood this Tuesday. Supposedly blood antibody levels drop to undetectable levels a couple of months after infection though (note: we still have T cells for long term immunity) so this might not be useful for you.
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Re:Coronavirus is most deadly if you are older and male – ne...
by tyfon on Friday August 28, 2020 @10:45AM
(#24305486)
I'm in Norway, but I guess I could just get an antibody test. Not sure if it would benefit me though.
Could do it just for curiosity perhaps :)
Re:Coronavirus is most deadly if you are older and male – ne...
by ahelwer on Friday August 28, 2020 @10:52AM
(#24305582)
At least it'll give you some info about whether you're likely to make it when a really bad pandemic comes along. I thought I was being fairly careful - extremely diligent with masks, surgical-prep-style handwashing, disinfecting my phone, working entirely from home, leaving my apartment about once every two days for groceries or to go to a climbing gym (limited pre-registration required, masks mandatory, socially distanced, hand sanitizer everywhere, obviously this one was still a bit of a risk). So I guess we'll see whether or not my precautions were sufficient.
Re:Coronavirus is most deadly if you are older and male – ne...
by tacocataco on Friday August 28, 2020 @11:56AM
(#24306403)
Does the person getting the blood have to pay for it?
Re:Coronavirus is most deadly if you are older and male – ne...
by ahelwer on Friday August 28, 2020 @12:00PM
(#24306452)
Well, Red Cross sells the blood to hospitals to recoup costs (not for profit) and from there it enters the regular for-profit American healthcare system. So I guess they do, yes.
Re:Coronavirus is most deadly if you are older and male – ne...
by Pfhreak on Friday August 28, 2020 @12:01PM
(#24306484)
This is the most grim thing I've read in a while. Get your free test, the price is only a pound of blood and an hour of your time.
In Seattle, at least, you can just go get a free test in a drive thru with almost 0 hassle and no cost. This is the way it should be -- as accessible as possible and free. Otherwise you'll have infected folks skipping testing.
Re:Coronavirus is most deadly if you are older and male – ne...
by jccooper on Friday August 28, 2020 @12:16PM
(#24306674)
That's a PCR test, for active infection. That's not the same thing as the parent comment is talking about.
Antibody is a blood test for (potentially) detecting past infection. Its public health benefits are lower and is usually not offered in a drive-through format. But it is available free with prescription, besides being included in blood donations.