Accurate Covid-19 antibody test raises spectre of ‘immunity dompass’ – The Wall Street Journal

At last – an accurate anti-body test approved for emergency use which can help guide our response in mitigating the spread and allocating our healthcare resources more efficiently. By June, when South Africa may ease lockdown restrictions further (even though the infection rate will inevitably spike), manufacturing giant Roche says it will be able to produce millions of antibody test kits per month. Why is this important, given that we're not talking about a vaccine or a cure? Because the experience of third world communities where living cheek-by-jowl in townships is all too common, the Covid-19 infection rate is often inexplicably lower than in surrounding areas. This suggests that living with constant, ubiquitous infections and viruses creates greater immunity among these populations – giving some protection against the coronavirus. Untested; until now. All that remains is clarity about what constitutes 'emergency use.' You'd think any tool that prevents death by enabling more accurate mitigation measures qualifies for 'emergency use.' While it's unproven that those who've recovered from a Covid-19 infection are fully immune from re-infection, (scientists still don't know how long antibodies stay in the blood), it opens up a world of potential for those who desperately need to earn money to avoid, at best malnutrition, and at worst starvation. An immunity 'dompass' may not be so far-fetched. – Chris Bateman

Roche coronavirus antibody test wins FDA approval for emergency use

By Denise Roland

(The Wall Street Journa) – The Food and Drug Administration has cleared for emergency use an antibody test from diagnostics giant Roche Holding the company said Sunday, a move that could add significant capacity to efforts to determine the wider spread of Covid-19.

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