Corona Serology Tests – Results within 12 hours
If you have recovered from Corona or received the second dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine, you can take a serology test at Sheba and determine your coronavirus antibody level.
It is a simple blood test (just one beaker) that identifies IgG antibodies to the coronavirus. Professional studies and articles report a correlation between IgG antibody levels and the neutralizing antibodies, currently providing a relative indication of immunity.
Antibodies are formed about two weeks after the vaccination or contracting the virus, but antibody levels truly soar after the second vaccine, increasing by 6-20 times within one week.
Who should take a serology test?
Anyone who wants to know their antibody level.
The test is especially important for two groups:
1. Immunosuppressed individuals who have taken the vaccine, to determine whether they indeed developed antibodies.
2. People suspected of contracting the disease, i.e. people with a borderline positive result in a Corona test or asymptomatic individuals with one positive PCR results.
When can the test be conducted?
Anyone vaccinated or who was ill – 10 days – 2 months after the second vaccination or after recovery.
Tests are performed on individuals over 16 years of age.
How to schedule an appointment?
Testing is subject to prior coordination.
Anyone treated or who scheduled a test at Sheba:
Appointments can be scheduled online at any time
To schedule an appointment online by chat:
- Press “Appointment Scheduling Center”
- Select “Schedule Appointment
- Enter “Corona” in the clinic or test field
- Fill in your personal details and enter the code sent to you by SMS
- Select the desired service – Corona Serology
- Out of the available dates, schedule an appointment at your convenience
Anyone who was never treated or did not schedule an appointment to Sheba clinics
Appointments can be scheduled during operating hours only (Sun.-Thurs., 08:00-16:00)
• Online chat or Sheba Application
• Text message (SMS) + 972-3-530-3604
• WhatsApp +972-3-530-5000
Where is the test conducted?
Internal clinic, Sheba Outpatient Clinics. Use the Sheba App to navigate within the medical center.
After having the test, your blood sample is tested at Sheba’s automated central lab (Mega Lab) operating under ISO 15189 compliance for medical lab. Test type: SARS-CoV-2 IgG II of Beckman-Coulter on DxI-800 Immunoassay system.
When can the test be conducted?
Sunday – Thursday, 07:30-12:00
Starting 18 April 2021, tests will also be conducted on Thursday afternoons.
How much does it cost?
160 NIS
When do I get the results?
Within 12 hours after the test.
How do I get the result?
Results can be viewed in your personal medical record on Sheba Connect.
If you have not yet joined the service, ask the clerk at the reception desk to register you or enter your medical file on the Sheba App using facial recognition.
Corona Serology Test Q&A with Prof. Gili Regev-Yochay, Director of Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, Sheba
Updated as on 11 April 2021
What do the results show?
The range of results below corresponds with the new Beckman testing kit used at Sheba. The antibodies tested under the Beckman method are Anti-S antibodies that develop after the vaccine and after illness (unlike tests that measure Anti-N antibodies that are unrelated to the vaccine).
Positive result: 10.1 or higher
Negative result: Less than 10.1
What does a positive result mean?
It means that your chance of contracting the disease is probably low. Anyone with a positive result, i.e. having Corona antibodies, is probably protected at this point, but no one knows for how long.
Based on current information, there is no difference between people with a result of 11 or 60, they are protected to the same extent.
A positive result, if any, does not cancel the need to maintain guidelines in public spaces – wearing a mask and social distancing.
What does a negative result mean?
It’s not completely clear yet. It probably means that you do not have antibodies to Corona, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are not protected as we also have a cellular immune system. However, we recommend that you be cautious.
How long are the serology results valid for?
A study at Sheba with people who recovered from Corona demonstrates that they maintain antibody levels for at least 7 months. At this point, there is no data on people vaccinated against Corona and we will continue to update you as the information is obtained.
Need a consultation?
Prof. Eyal Leshem, Infectious Disease Specialist and Director of the Center for Travel Medicine and Tropical Diseases, will be pleased to consult you at the Travelers’ Clinic. Schedule an appoint at the digital center.
Any further questions?
E-mail us at QA.Corona@sheba.health.gov.il and we will respond as soon as possible.
Write “Question on Corona Serology Test” in the subject line of your e-mail.
