I have to say that I am of two minds on this latest development.
On the one hand, it would have been nice to see the home test kits get off the ground...and to get revenues rolling...
...however...
... this Covid thing is already complex enough for the average joe. For example, many are stuck on "should I get a shot or not?", and "is this a conspiracy?"
The questions that SQI's Antibody tests ultimately needs to answer are many and complex. For example:
- are my vaccine shots wearing off? what's a safe level?
- did I get enough protection from having had Covid in the past, ie am I safe to delay or avoid a vaccine, or booster altogether?
- Is whatever protection I have, waning quickly or slowly?
- when do I need to start practicing social distancing again If I got a booster 5 months ago?
- Did my 7 year old kid perhaps already have Covid thereby negating the need to get him/her a 1/2 dose vaccine? Perhaps I don't need to fret about giving him/her a shot at all (e.g. if they already have protection from having had it - perhaps without even knowing it - as is common with kids)
- I'm planning a trip in 6 months, I'm double vaxxed now, will I be safe then?
- given my age, how long after my second shot/booster, should I start worrying again?
- My elderly parent got a second shot (or booster) 3 months ago...are they protected now? What if they also have this other medical condition?
- I got a shot while variant # 1 was prevelant. Do I have antibodies that protect against the now prevalent variant # 2?
- and so on.
I am starting to believe that an intervening medical professional may be what is needed now to interpret Antibody levels
consistently & accurately...well before Home Antibody test kits are unveiled. Especially since (almost) everyone in the world is frankly confused, at best.
I hope there is uptake by Azova or others to get creatively involved. Example:
- an agreement with a national pharmacy to have results interpreted consistently by medical professionals? pharmacists?
- agreements with Companies to hire medical professionals to interpret blood tests on behalf of all their employees
- etc.
Home Test kits can still be rolled out on top of this, down the road...when more is known about antiboides (types, levels needed, variances by individual, etc.) and as the smarter people choose to know more about themselves and their level of risk, and are able to properly interpret results without political or other bias.
Just some random thoughts about the new potential roll-out plan for highly accurate Antibody tests (still much needed - and going forward more than ever as vaccines and boosters run their course)
MM