A new blood test provides information about immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus within 48 hours. This test is especially relevant for vulnerable groups whose own antibody response is not meaningful, MedUni Vienna reported Wednesday. The test also indicates whether the immunity is due to vaccination or a recovered infection. The data from the study have been published in the renowned journal Allergy.
The test developed by Bernhard Kratz under the direction of Winfried Pickl and Rudolf Valenta at the MedUni Vienna Center for Pathophysiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology is based on the memory response of T cells to three different peptide mixtures of SARS-CoV-2. T cells are an important part of the cellular immune response: they neutralize cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 while supporting the immune response by producing specific messenger substances (so-called cytokines), which are also crucial for important antibody production, among others. Others.
Tests available from September
“Currently, performing and evaluating such T cell tests takes at least a week and the tests can only be performed in special labs. Our newly developed test, on the other hand, is performed directly with a blood sample and can be evaluated after just 48 hours,” explains Pickl. The new test can be performed from September at the Institute of Immunology at the MedUni Vienna Center for Pathophysiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology and is especially useful for people who cannot form antibodies to SARS-CoV-2.
The study also analyzed the T-cell response ten months after infection. The T cell response was as strong as ten weeks after infection. According to the MedUni, this is remarkable because the antibody levels in the blood have already fallen significantly ten months after an infection. This long-lived T cell response should also protect against a serious course in the event of a re-infection with SARS-CoV-2 in the future. The researchers emphasized that the cellular immune response of critically ill people requiring hospital treatment is particularly strong.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
