that blood test result

[redbird]

I heard from my neurologist about that "semi-quantitative covid test":

He says the <1 result means that I have "no detectable antibody response to all vaccinations thus far," because of the MS medication.

I tried googling to see what a negative covid antibody test might mean, but the CDC and FDA just want to tell me what a positive covid antibody test would mean, not a negative one. So I wrote back, and asked whether I need to behave as though I'm not vaccinated. I'm hoping my T cells are primed and ready to deal with this virus, but that's a hope, not a fact.

The doctor did say that if I want to get a fourth vaccine dose, he'd recommend getting it 3-4 weeks before my next Ocrevus infusion, which would put it in the second half of March. So I'm also going to ask Carmen what she thinks about a possible fourth dose the next time I talk to her, in January.

The doctor also apologized for the delay, which is reassuring, and offered to give me a letter of "medical necessity" so I won't be billed for tests. (Another look at the message from the health insurance suggests that what I'm actually being billed for is the JC virus test, which I don't think was medically necessary, but the positive test result from ten years ago isn't in their system, so they might buy that.)

---

ETA: I have some more information (from someone who is not my doctor). They confirmed that I probably have some useful protection from T cells, and also that given the timing of my booster dose of the vaccine last month, I should talk to my doctor about a fourth dose, carefully spaced at least 12 weeks after the most recent Ocrevus infusion, and at least four weeks before the following Ocrevus dose. That would mean sometime after January 13 and, conveniently, my next appointment with my doctor is for January 11th.

Comments

[thistleingrey]

Fingers crossed for an informed response! I wonder whether there's enough info yet for how people do after three doses versus four (and not only back-of-envelope guesstimating, which tilts towards a fourth dose helping for some immune-suppressed/compromised situations).

I wonder a bit sometimes what exactly we're testing via the various PCR and antibody tests because I have tested negative every single time, yet so far, my immune system can clearly handle whatever Reason brings me from her school (masked except lunch, and lunch is not 5 sec). I'm not on any meds at all--physically wobbly due to fatigue, but not what I'd consider immune-suppressed.

[princessofgeeks]

Yikes! So glad you are getting some answers.

[otter]

A doctor that is helpful and knows how to apologize when appropriate. Good.

[sabotabby]

Bizarre. Here's hoping you get some answers.

[minnehaha]

Best of health, truly!

K.

[kalmn]

you should likely behave as if you aren't vaccinated, unfortunately. or, anyhow, my theory on it, also being on immune suppressants, is that i would really rather stay home than catch covid, so since the one thing we know for sure is that i am on immune suppressants which made my children's kindergarten years a strep throat filled hell for me, i am staying home more than other people are.

[redbird]

I think you're on different, stronger immune suppressants than I am.

I probably am staying home more than average, but at least part of that is that I can, since even before the pandemic I wasn't leaving the house to work.

[kalmn]

Sounds like you have thought about this. I am glad. My main goal is no dying.