Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG
Antibody tests tell whether someone has had an infection or been exposed to a specific virus, and a positive result for COVID-19 antibodies means the person has been exposed to that virus and the body created antibodies to fight it. Most COVID-19 antibody tests look for IgM and IgG antibodies. The body usually produces IgM antibodies first, as soon as it is exposed, and those fade away sooner. IgG antibodies appear later, and because they stay in the body longer, an antibody test may detect them for months or even years after an infection.
Why it matters: COVID-19 antibody testing is a blood test that can provide information about how the body reacted to infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and it can also show how the body reacted to COVID-19 vaccines. It is also known as serology testing. A positive test means COVID-19 antibodies are present in the blood — which may follow past infection with the virus, possible even for someone who never had symptoms, or may follow vaccination, so a positive result on its own does not establish which. A negative test means no antibodies were detected. An antibody test cannot find out whether someone is currently infected with the virus, and it is not a measure of whether someone is protected from it.
Source · Cleveland Clinic — what it is
Source · Mayo Clinic — why it matters, what moves it, related conditions
May increase with:
What is Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG?
Antibody tests tell whether someone has had an infection or been exposed to a specific virus, and a positive result for COVID-19 antibodies means the person has been exposed to that virus and the body created antibodies to fight it. Most COVID-19 antibody tests look for IgM and IgG antibodies. The body usually produces IgM antibodies first, as soon as it is exposed, and those fade away sooner. IgG antibodies appear later, and because they stay in the body longer, an antibody test may detect them for months or even years after an infection.
What might a high or low Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG mean?
COVID-19 antibody testing is a blood test that can provide information about how the body reacted to infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and it can also show how the body reacted to COVID-19 vaccines. It is also known as serology testing. A positive test means COVID-19 antibodies are present in the blood — which may follow past infection with the virus, possible even for someone who never had symptoms, or may follow vaccination, so a positive result on its own does not establish which. A negative test means no antibodies were detected. An antibody test cannot find out whether someone is currently infected with the virus, and it is not a measure of whether someone is protected from it.
What can affect Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG?
It may be higher with: Infection with the virus — after infection the body takes some weeks to make enough antibodies to be found by a test, COVID-19 vaccination — the body also makes antibodies in response to a vaccine.
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