• +1 (305) 792-2090
  • info@biocollections.com

How Long Do COVID Antibodies Last?

As the COVID-19 pandemic has progressed, our knowledge about the virus and how to stop it has also evolved. Initially, all we knew were diagnostic tests and masking. That quickly changed to antigen testing and rapid tests. After that, we heard about antibodies for covid and COVID-19 antibody testing. Shortly thereafter we started hearing about at-home tests, vaccines, and new treatment approaches. Unfortunately, interspersed throughout these discoveries were new COVID-19 variants, like Delta. Still we continued to learn and fight against the pandemic. 

Now, even as medical professionals are continuing to learn more about COVID-19 and its variants, we know that COVID-19 testing is still one of the most powerful tools at our disposal. Through testing, we learn more about COVID-19 and how to prevent or slow the spread. It can alert us to new variants, tell us when to stay home, or provide peace of mind to someone who fears they may have been exposed. 

Still, with all the evolving information and continued learning that surrounds COVID-19, it can be hard to sort your own thoughts out. You probably have questions. That’s why we are here. At BioCollections we are your trusted source for all your COVID-19 topics and questions. In this blog we are going to take an in depth look at COVID-19 antibodies and some of your most pressing questions. 

How Long Do COVID Antibodies Last?

If you were to type in “how long do COVID antibodies last CDC” in Google, you would probably get a result taking you to their homepage, instead of a suggested answer from Google. That’s because there is not a straightforward answer to this question. However, medical research suggests that there is a difference between antibodies from a COVID-19 infection and a COVID-19 vaccine. So, let’s break those down.

How Long Do COVID Antibodies Last From a Vaccine?

According to the WHO, after becoming fully vaccinated, your antibodies should last around 6 months. Again, because this is still a relatively new field of investigation, and everyone’s immune systems are different, it is hard to give a definitive answer. That being said, you can feel comfortable that within 6 months of your shot, you have an increased immunity from infection overall, and from a serious case of COVID-19 that could result in hospitalization or death. 

However, it is important to note that in general antibodies wane over time. This means they eventually drop to a level that is below the “threshold of protection.” This is true for vaccine antibodies as well. At this time however, medical professionals are uncertain what the exact “threshold of protection” is.    

How Long Do COVID Antibodies Stay in Your System After Infection?

If you were diagnosed with an active COVID-19 case, you probably want to know for how long you have COVID antibodies after your infection.  According to the CDC, COVID antibodies from an active infection can last up to 5 or 6 months. However, unlike a vaccine, it can be hard to pinpoint exactly when you started having antibodies with an active infection, as they can occur anywhere from 1-3 weeks after your infection. 

Additionally, with antibodies from active infections, there is no guarantee that you will develop enough antibodies to be in the “threshold of protection” for a full 5 or 6 months. That is part of the reason why some individuals are reinfected with COVID-19 more than once. 

Do Antibodies Make You Immune to COVID19?

Immune is a strong and specific word. When answering the question, “Do antibodies make you immune from COVID-19?,” it’s important to realize there are never any guarantees in the medical field. That being said, antibodies do help prevent you from catching and spreading COVID-19. They also help limit symptoms, so in case you do become infected, you experience more mild symptoms as opposed to those that are life threatening or require hospitalization. 

Again, these benefits are only experienced while there are enough antibodies present to be considered in “threshold of protection.”  

What is COVID Antibodies Treatment?

Monoclonal antibody infusion is a treatment method for severe or high risk COVID-19 cases in unvaccinated individuals. Essentially, medical providers conduct a COVID antibodies infusion, providing the patient with antibodies to fight their infection in the first ten days. This is helpful because the body naturally takes a few weeks to produce antibodies on its own.   

BioCollections, Your Trusted COVID-19 Partner

COVID-19 is scary. We get it. That’s why we are committed to helping you get through it with all the best resources and information available. At BioCollections, we know when you get tested, you need accurate results quickly.  That’s why at our testing sites, we provide fast turnaround times and transparent communication throughout the whole process. When you need a partner who gets the urgency and concerns of COVID-19, think BioCollections. Check out our website for more information on our testing sites, or to set up your test today

Please follow and like us:

Leave a comment

All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required