There are two types of tests currently being used to determine if a person is positive for COVID-19. The first, what is being referred to as “PCR” detects the genetic information, RNA, of the virus which would only be possible is someone is infected. PCR is more commonly used and they detect the presence of an antigen, rather than the presence of the body’s immune response (antibodies). The second test, a serological test, is used to measure the amount of antibodies or proteins present in the blood after an infection like COVID-19. In more common terms, this test is used to determine the body’s immune response to a pathogen as opposed to the pathogen itself.
Antibodies are formed to combat antigens. The IgM antibody is the first class produced during the primary response to a pathogen which you would see during the initial infection of COVID-19. IgG antibodies provide the longest protection since its half life is also long. IgG would be made once the B cell has received both signals and class switches meaning both antibodies would be present in the blood. Only IgG antibodies would be found after the person has recovered from the virus but if they were infected again after recovery.
I think in the beginning of this entire pandemic I will admit that I was not as concerned as I should have been and quite honestly I thought that the scariest part was the publics reaction and not the virus itself. Now however, I have friends infected and in quarantine, the grocery stores are still empty of staples and I haven’t left my own house in a month. I go in between feeling as if i have nothing to do all day and wanting to start 100 projects to feeling completely overwhelmed by the amount of work my professors are dishing out. Online classes are honestly not great in my opinion either. I find it hard to keep track of everything and I’m only in 4 classes. I even found myself missing a couple classes because i would lose track doing something completely unrelated
jill and micro 