IgM antibodies usually appear within days of infection, indicating recent or active infection.

IgG antibodies develop later and remain longer, indicating past infection or immune response.

Clinical uses include:

Supporting diagnosis of COVID-19 infection (alongside RT-PCR).

Assessing immune status after infection.

Helping in epidemiological studies and population-level immunity tracking.

The test is performed using a blood sample (serology).

Not a replacement for RT-PCR in acute diagnosis but useful for infection timeline assessment.

Analyte: IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

Normal Result: Negative (no detectable antibodies).

Abnormal Findings:

Positive IgM: Suggests recent or current infection.

Positive IgG: Indicates past infection or immune response.

Both IgM & IgG positive: Suggests ongoing infection with developing immunity.

Clinical Use:

Provides evidence of COVID-19 exposure and immune response.

Helps differentiate acute vs. past infection.

Supports monitoring in post-COVID recovery and vaccine studies.