Nigerian firm, Smart DNA Launches Covid-19 Antibody And Immunity Test

A Nigerian firm based in Lagos, Smart DNA, says it has launched an antibody test for COVID-19 that would tell if one has anti-bodies that could help fight off Covid-19 viral infection.

The procedure also works to indicate if there had been an infection in the past or from being vaccinated.

Smart DNA said it decided to introduce the antibody test into the Nigerian market to empower individuals and their physicians to make informed decisions about their risk of infection and of spreading the virus.

The tests which would be processed at one of the UK’s leading laboratories, AlphaBiolabs, would also analyse a sample of patient’s blood to detect the presence of Covid-19 specific antibodies, including Immunoglobulin G (IgG), the most common type of antibody.

The report would thus provide a quantitative result relating to the level of Covid-19 antibodies in a sample, as well as determining whether the level is low, medium, high, or not detected at all.

Speaking on how the kit works, Smart DNA’s Head of Business Development, Bukola Ogunsanwo said: ‘‘If you order an antibody immunity test from Smart DNA, you will be sent an easy-to-use sample collection kit, to collect the blood spot sample in the comfort and privacy of your own home and return to our laboratory for analysis.

“ You can also have the sample taken at our Lagos office.

She said with the launch of the antibody device that Smart DNA hoped to provide individuals and healthcare providers with better insights on immunity to COVID-19, whether from the vaccine or a previous infection.

 “Of course, the detection of antibodies does not mean that you are immune to Covid-19 and does not mean that you cannot be infected.

“However, the presence of antibodies within a sample demonstrates that your body has staged an immune response to the virus (either as a result of a previous infection or Covid-19 vaccination.

“It means that you should have some protection against a serious infection and should be less infectious towards others,” she said.

Ogunsanwo said further that, in other climes, particularly Europe, that there has been a roll-out of antibody testing for a wide range of purposes.

According to her, some have made antibody testing a part of their official framework at least, to establish people’s status as far as the infection is concerned, after which they could then be issued with a coronavirus passport or certificate.

Citing Austria, she said people could take official Covid antibody tests to determine if they were deemed “recovered,” and could get that country’s health pass as a result

It was revealed at the interaction that tracking one’s IgG levels would readily give an indication of their level of immunity to a SARS CoV-2infection.

The new and innovative laboratory antibody test had therefore been designed to give you people peace of mind and unequaled assurance about the level of protection available to them either in terms of vaccination or through natural exposure to the virus.

The Eagle reports that it would potentially highlight those people who have poor immune responses and therefore, need to take extra care.

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Industry operators see the antibody test kit as something likely to turn out a game-changer in the fight against COVID-19 viral infection.

The company urged both individuals and corporate Nigeria to embrace the device, given its its usefulness in the face of the ravaging effect of Covid-19.