I tested SARS-CoV-2 negative today
2020-Apr-30, Thursday 03:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mellowtiggerI tested negative today for antibodies. That's probably a good thing. I know that I had Influenza-A back in February but apparently I did not simultaneously develop COVID-19. That's good to know, since their symptoms were very similar. I guess that there's a "look-alike" flu going around.
I got to the testing site about 75 minutes early, and there was already a small line of cars parked in the residential area. The line was much, much longer by the time testing finally started. When I drove away, I passed about 3 long blocks of cars before the line turned a corner and I lost sight of it. I never saw the end of the line.
Everyone drove in single-file and paid from our car window. We then split briefly into two lines for the blood sample to be drawn. They had two carts with equipment on it, one cart serving each lane.
The test required only one of those finger pricks, so it was very brief and relatively painless. They placed a drop of blood onto a plastic widget, then they handed the widget back to the driver of the car. They said to set a timer for 10 minutes, then raise our hand for an attendant to help us with the results.
The line going forward toward the exit was shorter. Every time the person at the front of the line reached their 10-minute mark, they'd have a brief exchange, giving their widget to the nurse and getting a signed result sheet. They would drive off, and everyone else would drive forward then wait again.
Here's what my widget looked like (photo at left) as it neared the 10-minute mark. Pretty simple. I think my blood drop was placed at the "B". I had a bar of color at the "C" mark (control?), and nothing visible at either the IgG or IgM locations. Their paperwork about the test says it is "95% accurate", although it mentions nothing about sensitivity and specificity. They describe the two tests like this:
Nobody knows what happens to you at 10, 20, or 30 years after infection. It'd be awful if you risk cardiac arrest and blood clots every time SARS-CoV-2 tries to resume its infectious replication. If the heart cells remain infected for life, then I suppose it could affect people sort of like fever blisters. Your body maintains an even check against virus generation, but as soon as your immune system gets distracted by some other new infection, then the resident virus gains territory temporarily. In the case of SARS-CoV-2, that outbreak could mean risking another round of suffocation, heart attack, or stroke. That's the worst-case scenario that I can imagine. I hope somebody proves me wrong.
So, I tested negative today for antibodies. That's probably a good thing. I'm waiting for a vaccine.
I got to the testing site about 75 minutes early, and there was already a small line of cars parked in the residential area. The line was much, much longer by the time testing finally started. When I drove away, I passed about 3 long blocks of cars before the line turned a corner and I lost sight of it. I never saw the end of the line.Our goal at Minnesota Monitoring is to alleviate testing accessibility bottlenecks at an affordable cost and help save lives. This test is available on a first come first serve basis until supplies run out. We do not accept insurance and there is a minimal cost associated with the testing to cover expenses only. Here at Minnesota Monitoring, we want to do everything we can to assist our community in a time of need. The cost per test is $60 cash (or) $65 for credit card.
- https://www.mnmonitoring.com/covid-19-testing
- https://www.mnmonitoring.com/covid-19-testing
Everyone drove in single-file and paid from our car window. We then split briefly into two lines for the blood sample to be drawn. They had two carts with equipment on it, one cart serving each lane.The test required only one of those finger pricks, so it was very brief and relatively painless. They placed a drop of blood onto a plastic widget, then they handed the widget back to the driver of the car. They said to set a timer for 10 minutes, then raise our hand for an attendant to help us with the results.
The line going forward toward the exit was shorter. Every time the person at the front of the line reached their 10-minute mark, they'd have a brief exchange, giving their widget to the nurse and getting a signed result sheet. They would drive off, and everyone else would drive forward then wait again.
Here's what my widget looked like (photo at left) as it neared the 10-minute mark. Pretty simple. I think my blood drop was placed at the "B". I had a bar of color at the "C" mark (control?), and nothing visible at either the IgG or IgM locations. Their paperwork about the test says it is "95% accurate", although it mentions nothing about sensitivity and specificity. They describe the two tests like this:- The IgM antibodies are a short-term marker, appearing about the 5th day of infection and disappearing within 30-60 days.
- The IgG antibodies appear by the 14th day of infection and theoretically remain for life.
Nobody knows what happens to you at 10, 20, or 30 years after infection. It'd be awful if you risk cardiac arrest and blood clots every time SARS-CoV-2 tries to resume its infectious replication. If the heart cells remain infected for life, then I suppose it could affect people sort of like fever blisters. Your body maintains an even check against virus generation, but as soon as your immune system gets distracted by some other new infection, then the resident virus gains territory temporarily. In the case of SARS-CoV-2, that outbreak could mean risking another round of suffocation, heart attack, or stroke. That's the worst-case scenario that I can imagine. I hope somebody proves me wrong.
So, I tested negative today for antibodies. That's probably a good thing. I'm waiting for a vaccine.
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Date: 2020-May-01, Friday 06:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-May-03, Sunday 01:25 pm (UTC)