Ask the Doctor: Testing for Past COVID-19 infection

This content was current as of the date it was released. In science and medicine, information is constantly changing and may become out-of-date as new data emerge.

Question

I have been on Ibrutinib for 1 1/2 yrs and am doing well. Question, if I had the covid virus with little or no symptoms, then I get tested for it at a later date, will the test reveal that I did have the virus?

Answer

Here is the answer from Dr. Furman.

The currently available testing is a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test that detects active viral replication.  This will only be positive while infected.  Antibody testing (serology) will be able to detect a previous infection, and hopefully immunity from a repeat infection, but these tests are only just being developed.