NEW T CELL TEST AVAILABLE NOW
First Test to Identify T Lymphocyte (T Cell) Immune Response to COVID-19
The Private Harley Street Clinic is the first UK clinic to offer T cell testing to determine previously undetected lymphocyte immune responses to COVID-19 infection or vaccination.
Hitherto, the only test available to assess an immune response was based on the presence of antibodies in identification of previous Covid-19 infections. However, the new T-SPOT®.COVID test will enable individuals themselves to discover whether they have mounted a T cell immune response to Covid-19 as opposed to an antibody response, which is the other way that the immune system deals with COVID-19 viral infection.
Dr Mark Ali, Medical Director of the Private Harley Street Clinic, and a Cardiothoracic Surgeon of 30 years’ experience says: "Identification of a T cell response to Covid-19 is seen as the missing link in testing. We have tracked so many people who are sure that they have had COVID-19 but test negative for antibodies and also the antigen itself, perhaps because they were tested too late to pick up the virus or it was a false negative.
“In these cases, we have long believed that they may have had T Cell immune response, but we have had no method of confirming this – until now. This is a substantial development".
The T-SPOT®.COVID test has been developed by Oxford Immunotec Global PLC, producers of the T-SPOT®.TB test, which was originally used for diagnosing infection with Tuberculosis. The test is highly accurate and was positive in 96.6 % of a group of previously infected individuals <60 days after infection and 83.3 % at >60 days after infection:
- The T-SPOT®.COVID test is available at The Private Harley Street Clinic for £195.00
- The new ELISPOT based test is intended for qualitative detection of a cell mediated (T cell) immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in human whole blood
- The T cell test (the T-SPOT.COVID test) is CE marked and registered with the MHRA for use in the UK
- This requires a venous blood sample taken from a vein by a qualified medical professional
- For further information please visit www.privateharleystreetclinic.com/covid-19-t-cell-test
- Results are returned within 48 hours
If a person is exposed to Covid-19, their immune system will react to start clearing the virus. Part of this response is to produce specific T cells which can either clear virus themselves (Killer T cells – or more correctly cytotoxic T cells), or support the work of other T cells and antibodies (Helper T cells).
Fresh evidence has emerged to confirm that a T cell response can be measured as early as 10 days after an infection as opposed to the antibody test which is only reliable one month after the infection.
An individual now also has the ability to see if they have an immune response in either or both antibody and lymphocyte arms after suspected infection or vaccination.