You can get your Covid-19 antibody test done for just Dh200 and know its results in only three hours, thanks to Thumbay Labs – the UAE’s foremost private diagnostic referral laboratory network.
It’s authorised by Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and can be availed by all, including UAE residents, businesses and tourists, at Thumbay Hospital, located near Stadium Metro Station in Al Qusais, Dubai.
The test will be carried out on fully automated and highly sophisticated system using the electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) method that uses plasma, or serum samples.
It helps to know infection status in individuals who may have had mild or no symptoms. The test determines the infection prevalence in high-risk people, such as frontline workers engaged in healthcare, retail, essential services, schools, companies, law enforcement, areas with high concentration such as labour camps, ships, taxi and bus drivers, security guards, meat factories, oil field – offshore workers, etc. In these cases, it will not only determine previous infection status, but can also be used to give them infection clearance and allow them to return to work.
Dr Nasir Parwaiz, director of Thumbay Labs, said: “As per WHO, 80 per cent of the Covid-19 infections are mild or asymptomatic. Hence, antibody test will be useful in determining if a person had the infection without knowing. Antibodies takes one to three weeks to develop after infection, and its presence might indicate reduced infectiousness as well as some level of protection from reinfection. It can be invaluable for cases presenting late in the infection when PCR test is likely to be negative. Moreover, a person recovered from Covid-19 infection may take this test to determine his eligibility if he wishes to donate plasma for treatment of Covid-19 patients.”
Confirming that Thumbay Labs can conduct up to 4,000 Covid-19 antibody tests per day, Dr Parwaiz also noted that it is important to understand that such a test does not detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself, but the antibodies made by the immune system against the virus. He further added that the antibody test can be used to determine whether a person will be requiring Covid-19 vaccine once it is available in the future.
The antibody test also has important public health application as it will contribute towards epidemiological studies of disease prevalence in the community which will help in getting an accurate estimate of the case fatality rate, and determine who are at the risk of infection during contact tracing, he explained.
A positive antibody test will be useful if you are travelling to a country with a significant outbreak or in the event of a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. As normal operations resume across the UAE and the rest of the world, especially in business, sports and in the educational sectors, it will help organisations minimise risks if they are able to evaluate the collective immunity of the workforce/students and take measures accordingly.
Knowing that you already have antibodies against Covid-19 can provide peace of mind to the people who work with you and also to yourself.
How to take the test
Anyone seeking to undergo the Covid-19 antibody test may simply walk in from 9am to 6pm or book an appointment by calling Thumbay Hospital Dubai on 04 603 05555 or 0566806455 (WhatsApp). A valid Emirates ID or passport is required to proceed with the antibody test. Thumbay Labs also offers home collections as well as mass sample collection services for the Covid-19 antibody test.
What is an antibody test and how is it used?
An antibody test, also known as serological test, detects antibodies present in the blood when the body is responding to or has responded to a specific infection, such as Covid-19. An antibody test detects the body’s immune response to the infection caused by the virus rather than detecting the virus itself.
An antibody test can be used to determine if a person may have been exposed to a specific pathogen, and can also be used to evaluate the proportion of people in a population who have been exposed to the pathogen.
The Covid-19 antibody test helps identify people who have developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes Covid-19. The results can also help determine who may qualify to donate plasma that can be used for treating seriously ill Covid-19 patients.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and as per recent studies, Covid-19 antibodies developing after the infection may provide protection against reinfection, and may be helpful in case there is a second wave of Covid-19 pandemic.
