COMPLICATED KITS

India is now among a bunch of countries including UK and Spain that have raised concerns about the accuracy of antibody-based rapid tests

WHAT ARE ANTIBODY OR RAPID TESTS?

These are serological tests – or blood tests – that detect the presence of different antibodies that are formed as a response by the human body to fight the virus. These are not meant for diagnostic purposes

WHAT DO THESE TESTS TELL US THEN?

Rapid tests, through the detection of antibodies in just half-an-hour, aim to determine if an individual has previously contracted Covid-19. Antibodies would mean a person is immune to the Sars-Cov-2 virus