General Discussion

yellowwoodII

(616 posts) Thu Mar 19, 2020, 10:23 AM Mar 2020

Is there a test to learn whether one has already had the corona virus?

I had what I thought was the "flu" in February. I went to the immediate care place here and they swabbed me and said that I didn't have it. But that swab was for the regular flu. I had all the symptoms.

I've talked to friends who said they had a similar experience.

Is it possible that the virus was already circulating in February?

5 replies

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Highlight:

Is there a test to learn whether one has already had the corona virus? (Original Post) yellowwoodII Mar 2020 OP

Good question!!! Mike 03 Mar 2020 #1

First Covid case in China was in November. Phoenix61 Mar 2020 #2

I flew to my hometown for Christmas... Thomas Hurt Mar 2020 #4

I had the same discussion with my friend/coworker... Guilded Lilly Mar 2020 #3

There is a test that looks for antibodies in blood. Not sure it's widely available. If in fact there Hoyt Mar 2020 #5

Mike 03

(16,616 posts)

1. Good question!!!

Reply to yellowwoodII (Original post)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 10:24 AM

Mar 2020

Would this be a test looking for COVID19 antibodies?

Phoenix61

(17,006 posts)

2. First Covid case in China was in November.

Reply to yellowwoodII (Original post)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 10:26 AM

Mar 2020

So depending on where you live/travel and where people you are in close contact with live/travel I’d think yes, completely possible.

Thomas Hurt

(13,903 posts)

4. I flew to my hometown for Christmas...

Reply to Phoenix61 (Reply #2)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 10:36 AM

Mar 2020

spent xmas morning in the ER. My oxygen levels were down, a first for me with the flu. No pneumonia.

I have questioned since whether I had CV but the test they did on came back Flu A.

Guilded Lilly

(5,591 posts)

3. I had the same discussion with my friend/coworker...

Reply to yellowwoodII (Original post)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 10:36 AM

Mar 2020

Our membership driven business is temporarily closed now but we both feel that the “bugs” we have had since Thanksgiving could have been mild covid-19 cases.

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)

5. There is a test that looks for antibodies in blood. Not sure it's widely available. If in fact there

Reply to yellowwoodII (Original post)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 10:38 AM

Mar 2020

immunity to the coronavirus once you have had it, you'd be a "valuable person" in that you could help sick people with some immunity to the disease. But, I'm not sure scientists have confirmed such immunity at this point.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/02/28/810131079/how-a-coronavirus-blood-test-could-solve-some-medical-mysteries

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