People who have been infected with the corona virus still have antibodies in their nasal fluid months later. Researchers from Radboudumc in Nijmegen made this discovery. They conclude that by examining nasal fluids, the immune system against the virus can be closely monitored. A blood test is therefore not necessary per se.
The scientists examined a total of 130 people who became infected during the first corona wave last year. None of the participants became seriously ill, none of the subjects studied have been hospitalized for COVID-19. Measurements showed that the participants had more and more antibodies in their nasal fluid in the first month after infection. After that, the amount of antibodies slowly decreased, but after nine months, the study participants all still had antibodies in their nasal fluid. That insight may come in handy, according to immunologist Dimitri Diavatopoulos. “Because nasal fluid is very easy to take, we can also simply measure antibodies, even in young children. For many people this is better than taking blood.” Read more at skipr.
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