COVID Antibody Test in Charlotte, Rock Hill, and Lancaster
Why You Should Get a Covid-19 Antibody Test
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has put everyone on edge in the past few years. Two years later, the world is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. With over 533 million cases worldwide, the virus is currently causing a rising number of infections.
As humans, our immune system learns from past infections. Once we are exposed to any virus or bacteria, our bodies immediately begin to build proteins (antibodies) to fight against the infection to prevent a recurrence.
However, with similar symptoms to other virus infections–combined with a lack of COVID-19 diagnostic tests in some areas–it is very possible you’ve had an infection without knowing it. This is where an antibody test comes in handy.
Our COVID antibody test in Charlotte, Rock Hill, and Lancaster, SC, can help you detect any past infection. It can also give you peace of mind about your current virus status.
What Is a COVID Antibody Test?
An antibody test–also known as serology–is a test that checks for antibodies against infections or viruses like COVID-19 in the blood. After being invaded by a virus, your immune system develops these antibodies to fight the infection. These antibodies help protect your body from getting reinfected for a temporary amount of time. If antibodies for a particular infection are found in the blood, that means the infection happened sometime in the past.
COVID antibodies can also be found in the blood if you have been vaccinated against COVID-19. These antibodies protect your body in the same way and keep you from getting reinfected for a certain amount of time or lower your chances of developing severe symptoms. Our COVID antibody test ultimately helps you determine how safe you are from the virus.
Who Needs an Antibody Test?
A COVID antibody test is mainly for patients with symptoms of COVID-19 who have not yet been tested to confirm if they are positive.
However, it is important to note that antibody tests do not diagnose COVID-19, nor can they check for current infections. This is because it takes the body a little over three weeks to create antibodies to illnesses.
This is why it is not advisable to test for antibodies too soon after you get vaccinated. On the other hand, if you have never had long-term symptoms or tested for COVID-19, you should consider getting an antibody test.
Long-term symptoms may include the following:
- Fatigue
- Cough
- Trouble breathing
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Loss of taste or smell
How Much Is an Antibody Test?
Many people find themselves asking one of the most pressing questions about the antibody test: how much is an antibody test? However, there is no set answer for this. The cost of the antibody test depends on where you get it from.
An antibody test generally costs around $49 if you are getting billed directly from your healthcare provider. If you are billed on your health insurance, it may cost a little more than this. This is because there is no set standard to regulate the antibody test cost.
However, if you choose to get the antibody test outside the recommendation of your doctor and purchase it for yourself, the antibody test will cost a lot more.
What to Expect
Since an antibody test is, essentially, a blood test to check for proteins following an infection, it only requires a finger prick to collect a proper sample. Your results may be available the same day you take the test (otherwise known as a same-day antibody test), or they might be available a few days after they’ve been sent to a laboratory.
A positive result indicates a past COVID-19 infection while a negative result means that you have not had COVID in the past and do not have antibodies.
However, regardless of your test results, it is in your best interest to continue to protect yourself against COVID-19.
A positive result indicates a past COVID-19 infection. A negative result indicates that you have not had COVID in the past and do not have antibodies.
Regardless of your test results, you should continue to protect yourself against COVID-19. Even patients who have had an active infection can get reinfected.
Where To Go for an Antibody Test
Another FAQ patients ask is where to get an antibody test. Since there may not be a lot of diagnosis centers available where you live, getting an antibody test might not be an easy feat. If you’re reading this, you may have already tried looking up “where to get an antibody test near me.”
Regardless of the high antibody test cost in some areas, you can still get the test done at subsidized rates. And if you happen to be in the Charlotte, Rock Hill, and Lancaster areas, then you are in luck. You can pay us a visit at Carolina Pharmacy to get your antibody test done quickly and efficiently. Overall, our services are quite affordable, and you won’t have to worry about surprise costs.
Nowadays, it’s normal to see some antibody tests carried out with a sense of urgency. Whether someone needs the results for travel or for work, it can be inconvenient to need to wait for a few days. That’s why, at Carolina Pharmacy, our services include same-day antibody tests.
With us, you can get your results in a matter of hours instead of days. Same-day antibody tests take away the extensive wait period and still provide you with accurate results.
Schedule Your COVID Antibody Test in Charlotte, Rock Hill, & Lancaster
At Carolina Pharmacy, we provide the COVID antibody test in Charlotte, Rock Hill, and Lancaster. You can contact any of our numerous convenient pharmacy locations for more information on rapid COVID testing, travel testing, or how to get the COVID vaccine. We are happy to serve you.
