There may soon be an easier way to determine whether you’re immune to COVID-19. WBZ-TV’s Dr. Mallika Marshall reports.
>>> SIMPLE BLOOD TEST COULD SOON DETERMINE IF YOU ARE IMMUNE TO COVID-19. BOY, THIS WOULD WORK WITH ANTIBODY TESTS THAT WE’VE HEARD ABOUT, YES? >> EXACTLY. AND THIS WOULD BE REALLY NICE TO KNOW, WOULDN’T IT? >> YOU’D BE SO FREE. >> EXACTLY. >> BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN HARD TO MEASURE HOW PROTECTED SOMEONE IS AGAINST COVID-19. ANTIBODY TESTING DOESN’T REALLY TELL THE WHOLE STORY WHICH T CELLS LIKELY PLAY A LARGE ROLE AS WELL. WELL, NOW AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF RESEARCHERS HAS DISCOVERED A WAY TO MEASURE T CELL ACTIVITY AGAINST COVID-19 AND PROVIDE RESULTS WITHIN 24 HOURS. THEY SAY A COMBINATION OF ANTIBODY TESTING AND A MEASURE OF T CELL ACTIVITY WILL PROVIDE A MUCH CLEARER PICTURE OF HOW ROBUST SOMEONE’S IMMUNITY IS AND HOW LONG PROTECTION WILL LAST AND HOW OFTEN BOOSTER DOSES ARE NEEDED. THE TECHNOLOGY IS ALREADY AVAILABLE OF COURSE IN THE UK BUT STILL AWAITS FDA APPROVAL HERE
