What Does A Negative Antibody Test For COVID-19 Mean?
COVID-19Common questionWhat does a negative antibody test for COVID-19 mean?A negative result on a SARS-CoV-2 antibody test means antibodies to the virus were not detected in your sample. It could mean: You have not been infected with COVID-19 previously. You had COVID-19 in the past but you did not develop or have not yet developed detectable antibodies.
Can you have a negative antibody test for COVID-19 after vaccine?
The authorized vaccines for prevention of COVID-19 induce antibodies to specific viral protein targets; post-vaccination antibody test results will be negative in individuals without a history of previous natural infection if the test used does not detect the type of antibodies induced by the vaccine.
FDA In Brief: FDA Advises Against Use of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Test Results to Evaluate Immunity or Protection From COVID-19, Including After Vaccination | FDA
Does an antibody test diagnose an active COVID-19?
Antibodies can take several days or weeks to develop after you have an infection and may stay in your blood for several weeks after recovery. Because of this, antibody tests should not be used to diagnose an active coronavirus infection.
COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions | FDA
How long after getting infected will COVID-19 antibodies show up in the test?
An antibody test may not show if you have a current infection because it can take 1–3 weeks after the infection for your body to make antibodies.
Test for Past Infection
What is the false negative rate from COVID-19 antibody test results?
The reported rate of false negatives is 20%. However, the range of false negatives is from 0% to 30% depending on the study and when in the course of infection the test is performed.
Which test is best for COVID-19?