If you’ve tuned into the news recently, you have likely heard of the Delta variant. As new information comes out and new peer-reviewed studies reveal better ways to tackle the virus, health organizations are keeping a close eye on the Delta variant and the ways it might inhibit moving forward.
What Is the Delta Variant?
The Delta variant is a mutation of COVID-19. This particular mutation was first observed last year but has since continued to spread and wreak havoc on efforts to control the novel coronavirus. The Delta variant is not the only mutation to come from the original novel coronavirus seen in late 2019. An Alpha variant emerged, as did a Beta and other variants.
Delta has made headlines and remains a persistent source of concern because it is the mutation that has continued to surface and keep the virus circulating widely, even among vaccinated populations.
Increased Transmission
The most significant concern related to the Delta variant of COVID-19 is its ability to transmit at a far greater rate than the original virus. This mutation has an estimated transmission rate rivaling that of chickenpox. With such a high transmission rate, authorities are concerned. Although vaccination continues to offer some protection from the virus, the Delta variant has been observed in vaccinated individuals and populations.
Is the Variant More Virulent?
At this time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other overseeing organizations have not determined whether or not the Delta variant is more virulent. Studies have shown that the Delta variant is certainly more easily transmitted. Easy transmission does not necessarily translate to being more dangerous or capable of delivering more severe disease. Determining if you have antibodies through testing can help relieve some concerns regarding the transmission of the virus.
Antibody Testing and Spread
Antibody testing can be a useful way to limit the spread of COVID-19 and measure outcomes. Antibodies are developed following either infection or vaccination. Measuring antibodies allows governing bodies and individuals to determine how likely it is that people and populations have mounted an immune response to the virus.
The Advantage of Antibodies
Antibodies offer several advantages to people who have been infected or vaccinated. The presence of antibodies is valuable because it demonstrates that the body has developed an immune response to the virus. All COVID-19 vaccines can elicit this response.
The Pfizer, J&J, and Moderna vaccines are all designed to develop antibodies. People who have been previously infected with SARS COV-2 can also have measurable antibodies.
In both cases, it allows people and infectious disease experts to measure immune responses. Immune responses can determine how likely the body is to remain immune to or less severely harmed by the virus. People who have been infected with the Delta or other coronavirus variants should demonstrate the presence of antibodies.
Antibody Testing in Memphis and Germantown, TN
Rapid Care offers antibody testing in Memphis and Germantown, TN. These tests effectively measure your immune system’s response to COVID-19, even if you have not tested positive in the past. Fully vaccinated people can also get antibody testing done to measure how effectively their body has mounted an immune response. COVID-19 tests can be useful for work, travel, and general personal preference.
Getting Tested Amidst the Delta Variant
The Delta variant has hit the United States and other countries around the world hard. Hospitalizations and deaths resulting from the novel coronavirus remain a significant threat to public health. Because the Delta variant spreads faster, the CDC recommends that all people in areas of high transmission begin wearing a mask indoors to ward off further risk of infection. Schedule an appointment with our team today!
