By: Ranjini K
September 3 2020
A study by Iceland researchers showed the presence of Covid-19 antibodies for four months post-recovery. Further research is needed to validate fully.
A study by Iceland researchers showed the presence of Covid-19 antibodies for four months post-recovery. Further research is needed to validate fully. The New England Journal of Medicine published a study that tested for the antibodies in Covid-19 recovered patients. The study was conducted by researchers in Iceland to know the immune status after recovering from Covid-19. They measured the antibodies in serum samples from 30,576 persons. The results showed that antiviral antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 did not decline after four months of diagnosis. However, the study had focused on a homogenous population from a single country, so we cannot generalize the results obtained. It might differ in a diverse community in other parts of the world. Other studies, too, have confirmed that recovered patients had formed antibodies to the coronavirus. But we need more evidence to determine how long the antibodies can hold steady before it declines. Further, it is unclear if the antibodies will protect recovered patients from reinfection. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.