COVID-19 Antibody Test

Detect COVID-19 antibodies from a previous infection or vaccination. Read more

Test details

Sample type:

Blood

Preparation:

You don't need to do anything to prepare for the test, such as fasting or not taking medications. Additional instructions will be provided during your appointment.

Test type: In Person

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$73.00

+ $6.00 Physician Service Fee

Quantity

What

This test detects SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) antibodies from a previous infection and from the COVID-19 vaccinations.

Who

For anyone who wants to know if they have antibodies from a prior infection or vaccination.

How

Blood

Where

Find a location near you

Schedule an appointment, then visit a Quest Diagnostics patient service center location.

About the Test

Antibodies are proteins that the body produces in response to an infection or vaccine. There are 2 types of COVID-19 antibody tests: a spike protein test and a nucleocapsid test.

This COVID-19 Antibody Test is a spike protein test which can detect antibodies from a prior or recent infection, regardless of whether symptoms were present. Positive results may also occur after a COVID-19 vaccination, but the clinical significance is not yet known. A nucleocapsid test can only detect antibodies from a prior or recent infection.

This COVID-19 Antibody Test may be helpful if you:

Have previously tested positive for COVID-19 or were never diagnosed with COVID-19 and are looking to determine if you may have been previously infected with the virus
Want to know if you have detectable levels of COVID-19 antibodies
Want to track your antibody levels over time

This COVID-19 Antibody Test may not be helpful if you:

Have a compromised immune system or have a condition that makes it difficult to fight infections.

You should not get this COVID-19 Antibody Test and instead contact your healthcare provider if you:

Are feeling sick or have had a fever within the last 72 hours, think you are currently infected with COVID-19, were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 10 days or think you may have been exposed to COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

How long antibodies remain detectable after infection or vaccination and how long protection, if any, may last is not yet known. The results of this test should not be interpreted as an indication of degree of immunity or protection.

The COVID-19 Antibody Test detects the presence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, at the time of taking the test. It may take time for antibodies to develop from the time of exposure or vaccination, so it is not recommended that you take this test immediately after vaccination, or at the onset of symptoms.

This test is authorized to detect antibodies from a prior or recent infection by the FDA under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and meets Quest’s high-quality standards. This semiquantitative COVID-19 Antibody Test provides a positive or negative result and a numerical value that can show your immune response over time if you use the same test.

About COVID-19 antibody tests

After a natural infection, current research shows that it may be best to get antibody testing at least 3 weeks after symptom onset or known exposure to COVID-19 to increase the opportunity to detect an immune response.

It may be best to wait at least 3 weeks after your vaccination is fully completed. Antibody testing for the purposes of vaccine decision making is not currently recommended by the CDC.

If you test too soon, your body may not have produced enough antibodies to be detected by the test, which can lead to a false negative result. This test can sometimes detect antibodies from other related coronaviruses you may have been exposed to, such as a virus that causes the common cold. This can cause a false positive result.

COVID-19 is highly contagious, and you should continue to practice preventive measures to protect yourself and others, regardless of your antibody level.

This test should not be used to diagnose an active COVID-19 infection. If an active infection is suspected, molecular or antigen testing is recommended.

Most people who get COVID-19 will either have mild symptoms or be asymptomatic. Symptoms of COVID-19 can include:

Fever or chills
Cough
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

However, some people will have more severe symptoms. If you experience any of these severe symptoms contact a healthcare professional right away:

Persistent fever (lasting longer than 48 hours) greater than 102 °F
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
New confusion
Inability to wake or stay awake
Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone

This list does not include all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you. There are many causes of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. COVID-19 is just one condition that may cause these symptoms. This test does not rule out the possibility of other illnesses and infections that may be present instead of or in addition to COVID-19.

You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a test on questhealth.com. Purchases not permitted in: AK, AZ, HI.

You don't need to do anything to prepare for the test, such as fasting or not taking medications. Additional instructions will be provided during your appointment.

After you provide your specimen, it generally takes few business days to process and release your test results. However, processing times may vary. Your test results will be available in a clear and easy-to-read report. If your results differ from expected ranges, you may receive an alert call from an independent healthcare coordinator. Independent physicians are available to discuss questions or concerns you may have regarding your results.

How it works

questhealth.com offers 100+ consumer-initiated Quest Diagnostics lab tests to empower you to have more control over your health journey. Choose from a variety of test types that best suit your needs.

In-person
In-home sample collection

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No doctor visit required for purchase. Book a visit to one of 2000+ Quest locations.

Schedule an appointment

Visit Quest for sample collection

Complete your test sample collection during your scheduled appointment.

Get fast results online

Access results online as soon as they’re available.

View results

Get physician support

Discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost.

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+ in-home sample collection

If in-home service is available in your area, purchase for an additional $79 fee.

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Schedule an appointment

After you make a purchase, Quest Mobile will contact you to schedule an in-home sample collection appointment.

In-home sample collection

A Quest Mobile phlebotomist will collect your sample and deliver it to Quest Diagnostics.

Get fast results online

Access results online as soon as they’re available. Discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost.

View results

In-home sample collection is not available in all locations.
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FAQs

What is an antibody?

An antibody is a protein that the body produces in response to a specific antigen (including viruses like COVID-19). These antibodies provide protection against future exposure to that particular antigen.

Is the COVID-19 Antibody Test Approved by the FDA?

This test has been authorized by the FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). This means that while Quest Diagnostics has validated the test and has the data to believe the test and the collection kit are accurate, this test has not been FDA- cleared or -approved; This test has been authorized by FDA under an EUA for use by authorized laboratories; this test has been authorized only for the detection of IgG Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens; and, this test is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use on in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(B)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360BBB-3(B)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner. Additional studies need to be conducted for this test and others like it to be FDA cleared or approved.

Can I use my FSA or HSA funds to purchase tests at questhealth.com?

You may be able to use your FSA or HSA funds to purchase lab tests at questhealth.com. Please review your FSA/HSA plan or check with a tax professional to confirm specific requirements for individual eligibility.

Our references

The Quest Diagnostics molecular test and other authorized molecular tests (together the “molecular tests”) have not been FDA cleared or approved
The molecular tests have been authorized by FDA under an EUA for use by authorized laboratories
The molecular tests have been authorized only for the detection of nucleic acid from SARSCoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens an,
The molecular tests are only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner

The IgG and IgM antibody tests are intended for use as an aid in identifying individuals with an adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2, indicating recent or prior infection. Results are for the detection of SARS CoV-2 antibodies. IgG and IgM antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 are generally detectable in blood several days after initial infection, although the duration of time antibodies are present post-infection is not well characterized. At this time, it is unknown for how long antibodies persist following infection and if the presence of antibodies confers protective immunity. Individuals may have detectable virus present for several weeks following seroconversion. Negative results do not preclude acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. If acute infection is suspected, molecular testing for SARSCoV-2 is necessary. The tests should not be used to diagnose acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. False positive results for the test may occur due to cross-reactivity from pre-existing antibodies or other possible causes. The sensitivity of the IgM test early after infection is unknown. Due to the risk of false positive results, confirmation of positive results should be considered using a second, different IgM assay or an IgG assay. Samples should only be tested for IgM from individuals with 15 days to 30 days post symptom onset. SARS-CoV-2 antibody negative samples collected 15 days or more post symptom onset should be reflexed to a test that detects and reports SARS-CoV-2 IgG.

Tests purchased on questhealth.com are only for individuals who intend to pay directly for testing and do not want to submit a claim for reimbursement under their health insurance.

COVID-19 Antibody Test