MRC warns healthcare workers not to use antibody tests to check if vaccine worked
The council says, among other reasons, testing too soon after vaccination could yield a false negative and should be avoided
21 April 2021 - 12:18
The Medical Research Council (MRC) has advised healthcare workers vaccinated against Covid-19 not to take antibody tests to check if the jab has worked, as the tests may give a false negative.
The MRC is overseeing the Sisonke implementation study, which aims to provide Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) shot to 500,000 healthcare workers. In a statement issued on Tuesday night, it said it had received numerous enquiries from vaccinated health workers who had obtained antibody tests from private laboratories, and were concerned about receiving negative results with prompts suggesting “vaccine failure”...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.