Sorry if this has already been asked and/or covered.

If somebody has never been tested for Covid19 but they decide to get an antibody test to see if they had it a while back. Let's say the antibody test comes back positive. Will this now be added to the total case count for having the virus?

I think it depends on the state and/or county level guidance. In some places they are, some places they were and then stopped once they realized how it mucks up their data, and in some places they stuck with the PCR swab only.

The general consensus right now, that I'm aware of, is that antibody test results should not be combined with PCR test results.

BBGigem said:

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Sorry if this has already been asked and/or covered.

If somebody has never been tested for Covid19 but they decide to get an antibody test to see if they had it a while back. Let's say the antibody test comes back positive. Will this now be added to the total case count for having the virus?

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In Texas at least, it is reported separately from "active" cases, which are determined via qPCR or antigen tests.

But yes, it would be reported as a positive case, and added to the total because that's what that result represents.

My daughters boyfriend was tested for antibodies and it came back positive. This was done a few weeks after his mother, a nurse, tested positive for the virus. None of the rest of the family (dad and two other siblings) tested positive for the virus at that time including her boyfriend. They tested the whole family for antibodies after she recovered (mild case). Of no surprise she has antibodies but he was the only other person to test positive for the antibodies. The boyfriend never felt sick at any time in the last few months. They think he had it long before mom got it but was asymptomatic.

To add to the story, he is from Brazil and has been back in Brazil since March when their college, here in the US sent everyone home. So they think he probably got it here in the US before going back. His mom was diagnosed about 3-4 weeks ago so he was back home over two months before mom got sick. So he didn't give it to her. Interesting case. Anyway, that just got me wondering if a positive antibody test would add to the total cases without ever testing positive for the virus.

Thanks for the input.

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