Test for past infection

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (U.S.). Division of Viral Diseases.
• Description:
  Updated July 15, 2021
  
  Antibody or serology tests look for antibodies in your blood that fight the virus that causes COVID-19.
  
  • Antibodies are proteins created by your immune system that help you fight off infections. They are made after you have been infected or have been vaccinated against an infection.
  
  • Vaccination is a safe, effective way to teach your body to create antibodies.
  
  • Antibodies can protect you from getting those infections for some period of time afterward. How long this protection lasts is different for each disease and each person.­
  
  • Antibody tests should generally not be used to diagnose a current infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. An antibody test may not show if you have a current infection because it can take 1 to 3 weeks after the infection for your body to make antibodies.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Clinical Laboratory Techniques Coronavirus Infections/diagnosis COVID-19 COVID-19 Testing Diagnostic Tests, Routine Laboratories
• Document Type:
  Webpage
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Collection(s):
  Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:7c756d8497f3ee2acd3e0a58180fc25d3492d8edff6d69887d2af439853bf96d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/108130/cdc_108130_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 410.80 KB ]