Quantitative Antibody test (to spike protein) that gives number values and can be used to detect immunity after the Covid Vaccine.
Doctor performed venous blood test more accurate than home finger prick self test kit.
MHRA stops Home finger prick Antibody tests
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (UK Department of Health agency that regulates medicines and medical devices to ensure they meet safety, quality and efficacy standards) have asked all laboratories in the UK to stop analysing home finger prick Covid-19 antibody tests with immediate effect until they check how well they work for this non-approved testing method.
How long could the IgG Antibody offer me protection for?
Data from the previous Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) suggests protection up to 2 years with the IgG Antibody.
How does the Roche® test compare to Abbott® and other currently available tests for Covid-19 Antibodies?
The Roche venous blood laboratory antibody test is one of the two best quality antibody tests currently available (the other being Abbott). On all current data evaluated, there is unlikely to be a statistically significant difference between the Roche and Abbott SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests.
Public Health England (that is the NHS) has approved both the Roche and Abbott venous blood Laboratory Tests as being highly accurate and given the green light for a national roll-out.
Public Health England have also done their own evaluation on both the above tests and have found the vein taken Roche Elecsys antibody test to be as equally effective as the Abbott Architect vein taken antibody test. Click here for a summary of their findings.
| Appointment | Price |
| Blood Test by Doctor | One-off £39 admin fee (per visit) – plus labaratory cost (select your blood test for prices). – £5 surcharge on weekends |
Book On-Line as ‘GP Blood Test’.
Roche® Elecys Covid-19 IgG Antibody blood test [£58]
This is the PHE approved Covid-19 venous blood antibody test that we as doctors have been waiting for to provide good quality evidence of your antibody status.
- 98.8% Specific at detecting IgG antibodies. Specificity is the ability of the test to correctly identify those without the disease (true negative rate).
Eligibility Criteria
You can ONLY come to us to have this test:
- If it has been at least 2 to 3 weeks after the onset of any Covid-19 symptoms/ having the covid vaccine.
- If you have no current Covid-19 symptoms (no temperature, cough, weakness, loss of taste/smell).
- You have to wear a mask at all times in the Surgery.
- You MUST bring in your photographic ID. At home finger prick tests cannot verify your result as belonging to you.
Am I Immune if I am IgG positive (hence cannot contract the virus again)?
The Scientists are not 100% certain yet. In general if you are IgG positive to any infection, you are immune and you should not contract that infection again. However, in the case of SARS-CoV-2 virus, we are still not certain if being IgG positive confers complete protection and if so for how long. What we know for certain is that having IgG antibodies to other viruses in the Coronavirus group is associated with at least a short term immunity to re-infection. Hence, even if you are IgG positive, you should continue to follow the governments guidelines on social distancing and protecting yourself and others against infection.
Please note that there have been instances where patients have definitely had covid symptoms (and even confirmed as being positive on a PCR swab test during their illness), but did not mount an IgG antibody response. Hence these patients will test negative for the IgG antibody and therefore be vulnerable to getting the Covid-19 infection again.
Quantitative Data
| Roche Elecys SARS-CoV-2 IgG Level | Interpretation |
| < 0.8 U/mL | Not detected (Negative) |
| > / = 0.8 U/ml | Detected (Positive) |
Interpret results with caution for those who have undergone plasma infusion, are immunocompromised or have secondary immunodeficiency.
How long does it take for me to get my blood test results?
1 – 2 working days.