Antibodies alone without a previously positive test are not enough to obtain a Covid-19 certificate / Article

With Covid-19 antibodies, but without a positive Covid-19 test result, which determines the date of illness, it is not possible to get a Covid-19 digital certificate in Latvia. It is not known how many people became ill with Covid-19 without their own knowledge or without a confirmed diagnosis, as such data are not collected by the state. But their number could be quite large.

Disease of Covid-19 in the human body leaves traces – antibodies that develop after the infection is over. Several viewers wrote to Latvian Television that Covid-19 had become ill without a positive test result, but had reached a fairly high level of antibodies.

Irena had a runny nose in early March and no other symptoms. The daughter passed the Covid-19 test, which was positive. Irēna does not work, stays at home and did not pass the test at that time. She now has a blood test to see if she has antibodies. It turns out that there are, moreover, quite a lot.

“I went to the family doctor. She said that I have enough antibodies and I don’t need to be vaccinated right now,” said Irena. “She told me that after three months the analysis should be repeated to know if the immunity is maintained or not.”

While Irena is still waiting, her daughter, who was laboratory confirmed by Covid-19, has already received her digital certificate and can leave. But Irena can’t go with her.

“Very bad. At least, for example, to go to Lithuania or Estonia. I don’t know anything now,” said Irēna.

Another spectator, whom we will call Lauma at her request, became ill with Covid-19 in February. The family, where Lauma’s father and brother also live, all went to pass the test as contacts. Only Lauma had a negative. Despite this, the woman lost her sense of smell and taste, was weak, high temperature.

“I couldn’t get up. I slept both day and night, but we didn’t drive the test again,” Lauma revealed from her experience. “I contacted the GP. She immediately found out it was Covid-19. When I asked her if I needed to pass the test, she said I didn’t have to pass the test because it was clear the disease.”

Like the rest of the family, Laum treated Covid. The family doctor then prepared a certificate stating that the woman had Covid-19. Antibody levels are also high. But since the laboratory infection was not confirmed, a state certificate is not issued.

“I would like to receive this certificate, because unfortunately there are many side effects after getting Covid-19 – hair loss, hormonal changes,” explained Lauma. “I am not in good health and I would like to receive a certificate so that I can go in for sports, improve my health.”

Evija Štālberga, a representative of the National Health Service, explained that, unfortunately, a case in which the fact of the illness has been determined and documented by a family doctor or whether there may have been symptoms and antibodies is not appropriate. “Laboratory approval is required, and this is due to the fact that the disease certificate has a validity period of 180 days,” said Stalberg.

It is not possible to determine the duration of the disease after an antibody test. “Unfortunately, the mere fact that certain antibodies have been detected will not work, because we cannot ascertain the time of illness and, consequently, the validity of such a certificate,” said Stalberg.

It is not possible to say exactly how many people have experienced a similar situation, as such data are not collected. For example, less than 14% of all blood donors have antibodies in their blood. Līga Kozlovska, the head of the Latvian Association of Rural Family Doctors, receives a lot of questions from her patients and she advises everyone to get vaccinated and not wait.

“I would definitely call for vaccination now,” Kozlovska stressed. “If not vaccinated, then the patient, the population must have tests. Nasopharyngeal, saliva tests. Until August 1, they are still free.”

The State Agency of Medicines also urges not to rely only on the amount of antibodies in the body. Even if antibody tests provide some evidence of immunity, it is not known whether and for how long the levels of antibodies detected provide adequate protection.

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