Epidemiologist explained the difference between antibodies to covid

- First of all, the immune system reacts to the effect of a pathogen by producing IgM. These are early antibodies, the largest of the entire family of immunoglobulins, outwardly they resemble five slingshots with forks outward, thanks to which they have the maximum number of points for attachment and fixation of the antigen, - quotes RIA Novosti as the deputy director for clinical and analytical work of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor Natalia Pshenichnaya.

The expert added that these antibodies appear a week after infection, and their peak concentration occurs in the second half of the disease - by the 14th day.

Antibodies M, Pshenichnaya pointed out, are a kind of marker of the acute course of the disease. They do not live long, but in some patients who have had covid disease, M antibodies remain in the blood for several months, in some cases - up to six months.

As for the G antibodies produced from the second or third week of illness, they circulate in the body for a longer period of time, which ensures long-term immunity. The expert noted that these antibodies are more effective at fighting infection.

But it is impossible to diagnose with an antibody test, Pshenichnaya explained - this is just an additional method of testing immunity. For example, if M antibodies are first detected in a person during regular screening examinations at the workplace, then this is a reason to undergo a deeper examination with respect to the asymptomatic form of coronavirus.

Earlier, the director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Alexander Gintsburg, said that human immunity after being vaccinated with the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine could remain for life.