Rapid test identifies Covid-19 antibodies

Ten minutes to identify vaccine effectiveness and immune status

SMART

A RAPID test has been developed which can detect Covid-19 antibodies within ten minutes and doesn’t require the use of a laboratory.

Neutralising antibodies (NAbs) are a type of protein that prevent pathogens from infecting host cells by inactivating the pathogens. In the case of Covid-19, NAbs are generated by the body in response to either a Covid-19 vaccine or to the virus itself. They must be generated in sufficient quantities to prevent future infection.

Evaluating the level of NAbs that a person has is crucial to assessing the effectiveness of vaccines, assessing the immune status of vulnerable people, and determining when someone might need a booster. It can also be used to see if a population is close to herd immunity.