In previous studies, antibody levels dropped sharply within a few months after COVID-19, raising questions about the duration of immunity that infection may provide. To get a sense of how many people in Iceland had been infected with the new coronavirus and learn more about immune status after recovery, researchers measured antibody levels in more than 30,000 Icelanders. In the remaining 30%, the antibody tests led to discovery of prior infection. Still, the study shows how careful antibody tests can determine the true prevalence of infection, Stefansson said. An editorial that accompanied the study cautioned that it is unclear if recovered patients' antibodies will protect them from reinfection.

Source: bd News24 September 01, 2020 21:33 UTC