Blood samples taken from New Yorkers reveal some had coronavirus antibodies in February

Blood samples taken from New Yorkers reveal some had coronavirus antibodies in late February – more than a week BEFORE the first case in the state was announced Researchers looked at 5,500 blood samples taken from patients at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City starting the week ending in February 9 Coronavirus antibodies were detected … Read more

Tiny antibodies found in ALPACAS could help suppress a second wave of coronavirus

Tiny antibodies found in ALPACAS could help suppress a second wave of coronavirus and allow countries to safely lift lockdown, researchers claim Scientists in Sweden and South Africa have used ‘nanobodies’ from an alpaca The experts have claimed that their research ‘potently neutralises the virus’ The small antibody targets the spikes of the virus which … Read more

Men ‘make more Covid-19 antibodies than women’

Men make more Covid-19 antibodies than women and are better plasma donors, a study has revealed today. Coronavirus survivors are being urged to donate blood as part of a major NHS trial assessing whether it could help some of the sickest patients. NHS statistics show around 43 per cent of male donors had blood rich enough in … Read more

Just 6.1% of Swedes have developed coronavirus antibodies, study finds

Sweden’s loose approach to lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in fewer Swedes developing antibodies to the virus than anticipated, a study found.  Sweden has opted for a more liberal strategy during the pandemic as much of Europe hunkered down behind closed doors. Keeping most schools, restaurants, bars and businesses open the country adopted … Read more

American Red Cross will test all blood, plasma and platelet donations for COVID-19 antibodies 

American Red Cross to start testing all blood, plasma and platelet donations for coronavirus antibodies ‘to give donors peace of mind’ On Monday, the Red Cross announced it will be testing all donated blood, plasma and platelet for coronavirus antibodies The test will not determine if someone is currently infected but if they were infected … Read more

Super-potent antibodies taken from Covid-19 survivors can protect animals from severe disease

Super-potent antibodies taken from the blood of Covid-19 survivors could protect animals from being struck down badly, a study has found. Experts discovered extremely strong antibodies which prevented hamsters getting severely unwell with the disease, when exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.  Academics at Scripps Research, in San Diego, say the antibodies can be cloned in … Read more

More than HALF of residents’ in province worst-hit by coronavirus have antibodies

Italy nears ‘herd immunity’: More than HALF of residents’ in province worst-hit by coronavirus have antibodies amid ongoing debate over what protection they provide More than half residents in Italy’s province, Bergamo have COVID-19 antibodies 57% had antibodies indicating they had come into contact with the coronavirus Health authorities in Bergamo said the results were … Read more

Professor says only 10% of people with coronavirus develop antibodies

Only 10 per cent of people who are infected with the coronavirus develop antibodies, a professor claims.   Professor Karol Sikora, an advisor to the World Health Organisation, said the majority would have a negative result on an antibody test, even though they have had the coronavirus.  Governments have pinned their hopes on antibody testing to … Read more

Even mild coronavirus illness leads to antibodies: French study raises hope of immunity

Even people with mild symptoms of the coronavirus develop antibodies, according to a study that raises hopes that survivors do get immunity.  Researchers analysed the blood of 160 medics who all had a mild form of Covid-19 and had not needed hospital care. They found 99.4 per cent of the group had antibodies to the … Read more

Not every recovered coronavirus patients develops enough ‘neutralizing’ antibodies

EVERY recovered COVID-19 patient develops ‘neutralizing’ antibodies to the virus – but they may not be enough to block reinfection, small study suggests Researchers looked at 149 recovered coronavirus who donated plasma, which is supposed to contain virus-fighting antibodies About 79% had low levels of antibodies in their blood but 1% of ‘elite donors’ had very high … Read more