Covid-19 antibody tests can tell you if you have had a previous infection, but with varying degrees of accuracy. For the hepatitis B core antibody test, a reactive or positive result can mean either that a person is currently infected with hepatitis B virus or have been some time in the test. A medical worker organizes antibody tests at the Transforme Md Medical Center on April 29, 2020, in White Plains, New York. However, since a person who has cleared the hepatitis C virus still tests positive for antibodies, a follow-up test is required to determine if he is currently infected, says WebMD. A reactive result for this test can also be a false positive, meaning that the person has never been infected with the virus. Whether you test positive or negative for COVID-19 on a viral or an antibody test, you still should take steps to protect yourself and others . However, it is possible for this test to give a negative result that is incorrect (false negative) in some people. A reactive antibody test does not necessarily mean that you currently have hepatitis C and a follow-up test is needed. The test checks whether a person has developed antibodies against the coronavirus, which may mean that person has at least some immunity Coronavirus antibody tests -- … Does a positive test result mean I am immune? The SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay is a qualitative test designed to detect IgG antibodies to the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2 in serum and plasma from patients who are suspected of past coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or in serum and plasma of subjects that may have been infected by SARS-CoV-2. The Antibody Assay for SARS-CoV-2 is not a diagnostic test to determine if COVID-19 virus is present. If you had COVID-19 symptoms in the past and got positive results from an antibody test, there’s a decent chance are you are immune. A negative test result with the Antibody Assay for SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies does not rule out a SARS-CoV-2 infection. A reactive hepatitis C antibody test means that the patient has hepatitis C antibodies in his blood. What does it mean if I have a negative test result? A negative test result means that the antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19 were not found in your sample. Credit: VIEW press / Contributor / Getty The accuracy of antibody tests is still highly debatable, but they’re quickly becoming available in the U.S. That diagnosis should be based on a PCR (molecular) test. An antibody test may not show if you have a current COVID-19 infection because it can take 1–3 weeks after infection for your body to make antibodies. There is a lot of conjecture about the value of antibody (serologic) testing for COVID-19, what this type of testing will and won’t offer to help us understand the course of the pandemic. These tests look for Covid-19 antibodies in the blood, which the immune system makes in response to an infection. Here's what you need to know about Covid-19 antibody tests. 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