Why Antibody Tests Don’t Yet Reveal Coronavirus Immunity I NOVA I PBS
Can an antibody blood test tell if you are immune to COVID-19?
NOVA producer Caitlin Saks got the unusual opportunity to investigate her own blood to find out what exactly these “magic” molecules are, why public health professionals are eager to roll out antibody testing, and just what these antibody tests can — and can’t — tell us.
UPDATE Mar 22, 2021:
Since this video was first published in May 2020, antibody testing has improved substantially and can give a relatively accurate indication of whether or not someone has been infected with the virus. There is now a higher degree of confidence that if people have antibodies, they will have some level of protection. The exact level of antibodies needed for protection is still being worked out. Antibody testing hasn’t been a widely used surveillance method for detecting the prevalence of COVID-19 in the population, in part because some asymptomatic individuals do not develop detectable antibodies, and PCR testing – which is a nose or throat swab based test that detects the genetic material of the virus – is more efficient to diagnose symptomatic disease. Antibody testing remains an important part of the toolkit for clinicians and researchers for specific clinical scenarios and ongoing research questions.
COVID-19 vaccines do produce a strong antibody response and provide a high degree of protection from the virus.
To learn more, stream our hour-long documentary “Decoding COVID-19” on the PBS Video app or online: https://to.pbs.org/2xnYanv
Or right here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dz5WE3hgvBY
PRODUCTION CREDITS:
Producer/Reporter: Caitlin Saks
Digital Producer/Editor: Arlo Perez
Camera: Stephen McCarthy
Sound: Steve Bores
Research and Production Assistance:
Sukee Bennett
Angelica Coleman
Ari Daniel
Robin Kazmier
Christina Monnen
© 2020 WGBH Educational Foundation
@SD-vy7gj
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
"As the crucial NEW tool" you mean, what is done for every single virus in history. Except covid…
@georgefaulk2528
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
Well this was all fake news, wasn't it.
@henryottis295
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
Pureblood, and staying that way.
Probably already had it with minimal symptoms.
I trust my natural immunity.
@syadav2666
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
Thanks
@SouthTriniYute
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
You should probably take this video down or do a more up-to-date video about the high efficacy of natural immunity. Look at the research done in Israel for information.
@brockhuey3745
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
Fake news
@beyondnature1980
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
The United States government and Chinese government enginered this strain of virus in the Wuhan laboratory. The common flu/cold is seasonal difference is this virus is not. Have you ever been exposed to the flu/cold virus in summer or spring? When you do the flu virus is worse you can't smell taste and you have body aches some people end up in the hospital.
@novapbs
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
UPDATE MAR. 22, 2021: Since this video was first published in May 2020, antibody testing has improved substantially and can give a relatively accurate indication of whether or not someone has been infected with the virus. There is now a higher degree of confidence that if people have antibodies, they will have some level of protection. The exact level of antibodies needed for protection is still being worked out. Antibody testing hasn’t been a widely used surveillance method for detecting the prevalence of COVID-19 in the population, in part because some asymptomatic individuals do not develop detectable antibodies, and PCR testing – which is a nose or throat swab based test that detects the genetic material of the virus – is more efficient to diagnose symptomatic disease. Antibody testing remains an important part of the toolkit for clinicians and researchers for specific clinical scenarios and ongoing research questions. COVID-19 vaccines do produce a strong antibody response and provide a high degree of protection from the virus.
@briannevel5352
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
Complete load of crap.
@parttimetourist
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
TESTS ARE CRAP !!! My mechanic mate who was going to employ a young guy who had to do a test but after waiting for almost 2 hours got pissed off and went home. However,
A few days later he received a POSITIVE test result in the mail, so what does that tell you?
@reginaoke2360
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
I did my antibody test yesterday after testing negative to covid result will take 4 days the lab said. I can’t
@Spennydix
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
Duane is the real MVP
@RyanSnead
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
Thanks for sharing this informative educational video about a complex and unfortunately politically charged topic. Nice to see you continuing your educational mission after your Antarctica series.
@timmelcer3094
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
https://youtu.be/exMxfj0oCQ8
@goatunderthebridge2156
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
Anti-body test helps the narrative that many people have the virus and hence it has a very low Case Fatality rate. So don't trust the Anti body test….
Keep the fear in the public so Fauci, the Gates and the deep state can people out of work and they themselves get richer.
@goatunderthebridge2156
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
Basically these people are telling that stay home and crash the economy so that Trump looses the election.
@elgracko
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
could you have been asyntomatic and still develop antibodies?
@kevinm3751
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
This is the first time I have heard that someone could get re exposed and get a more severe disease. Seems a rather important component of the conversation and is not being talked about. I am getting the distinct impression none of the medical professionals really have a clue what they are doing given how many different opinions are floating around and then combine that with the total fear mongering media telling their own story it makes for a very confusing issue. Why is this the first virus that has so many in the medical field stepping over each other all with different and often conflicting information? Never have we seen so much confusion on this topic and it has to make one wonder and it sure as hell is not giving anyone a sense of confidence in our medical community!
@762x39_BJJ
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
THE VACCINE IS PART OF THE SATANIC AGENDA THE LETHALITY AND MORTALITY STATISTICS ARE MANIPULATED AND INFLATED !!! ITS NOT ABOUTBA VIRUS ITS ABOUT A SATANIC DICTATORSHIP AND CONTROL OVER THE WORLD
@hans-joachimbierwirth4727
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
They are deliberately producing false positives in order to downplay the case fatality.
@Motorhead250
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
Sweden herd immunity is inevitable..
@Roselynne1016
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
Vaccine companies have ZERO LIABILITY UNDER THE LAW!
@vinny15135
December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm
I am tired of hiding from something I can not see. So i am going about life like normal now, I dont care what people say
Comments are closed.