Clyde News visits antibody testing facility
We were given exclusive access to find out if our Head of News, Lorraine Herbison, has had the virus.
Scientists carrying out coronavirus antibody testing in Scotland are telling Clyde News we still don't have answers on the big question about immunity.
We've been given exclusive access to the lab at Quotient in Penicuik where the tests are done, to find out if our Head of News, Lorraine Herbison, has had COVID-19.
Lorraine's partner was extremely ill with the virus at the beginning of March, but she was never able to get tested to find out if she also had caught it.
Lorraine said: "I had more minor symptoms - I had a cough which lasted around nine weeks, it started off as a very sore throat.
"I then became weary and exhausted and had severe aches all through my body.
"That lasted about ten days - so I was determined to find out if I had the antibodies."
A blood test was taken and processed at the labs in Quotient and within 35 minutes, the results came back positive.
However Chief Operating Officer, Ed Farrell, cautions against relaxing social distancing measures.
Ed said: "An antibody positive test will tell you that you have been exposed to the virus in some way and that could be the actual virus itself or in future it could be a vaccine.
"So for her, it means she has antibodies but it means she needs to behave like she doesn't until we understand what level of immunity those antibodies provide - if any.
"When you look at other viruses that exist, antibodies provide some form of immunity.
"The reality is this is so new that we don't know enough about it to say if it provides immunity, what level of immunity or how long it lasts - only time will tell.
"In the media, there's a lot of discussion about antibodies and whether they provide immunity or not.
"Vaccines provide immunity by generating antibodies in general.
"I hope that antibodies are generated and they do provide immunity otherwise we've got a difficult road ahead."
You can watch the full video of our visit to the testing lab and see Lorraine finding out her results below.
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