UT Health's antibody research project lets anyone from 5 to 80 find out their number
SAN ANTONIO - Are you worried about your vaccine shot wearing off? Do you think you might need a booster soon? How much natural immunity do your kids have?
These questions can be answered by getting a free antibody test through a statewide research study called Texas Cares, which is being conducted by UT Health-Houston at more than a dozen San Antonio CPL sites as well as locations across Texas.
Anyone between the ages of five and 80 is eligible to participate. Over 20,000 Texans have done so since the study began nearly a year ago. The goal is 100,000.
"That’s why we’re doing the Texas Cares project, to help people monitor themselves and give us all the best information we can," says Dr. Harold Kohl, UT Health School of Public Health in Austin.
San Antonian Jan Hammer recently found out her antibody count.
"It’s kind of a peace of mind to know where you stand," she says. "Mine was low so my doctor said get the booster.
"I feel safer being around other people knowing I’m more protected."
UT Health is using the data to learn more about how long vaccines last.
"We still don’t know the extent to which antibody status may wane over time," Dr. Kohl says. "What started out as a 90 percent effective vaccine, with Delta here, 6-8 months out may be closer to 50 or 60 percent.”
Even though children under 12 aren't currently eligible to get the vaccine, parents still may want to know how many antibodies their children have. It could impact decisions on returning to on-campus learning and mask wearing.
"I think it’s an important piece of the puzzle and I'd encourage parents who are interested to do this test," Dr. Kohl says.
Antibodies are proteins that fight off the disease, occurring either naturally or through the vaccine. There’s no one magic number that’s considered safe since everyone's personal health background is different.
"I’m going to leave that to people’s personal physicians. I think it is variable. It is a continuum," Dr. Kohl says. "The counts are dependent on natural immunity, vaccine-induced immunity and so forth. It’s really variable and making broad characterizations is difficult."
Among the findings so far?
"Approximately 30 or so percent have natural antibodies when they first come in," Dr. Kohl says. "Some time in the past they’ve been infected or something similar."
Currently volunteers can get tested three times over a six-month period. The multi-year study might expand to include three additional visits.
"I went in and got a blood test and was back in my car in six minutes," Hammer says. "It’s super easy, super fast. There’s no downside."
There are 15 Clinical Pathology Laboratories in San Antonio. No appointment is needed. Before arriving at a CPL facility though, participants need to fill out documents here.
For frequently asked questions and more about how the research project works, click here.