I have good reason to believe that when I got “vaccinated” ten days ago, I wasn’t actually given vaccine. It’s a bit of a story that I don’t necessarily want to spill here.
I want to get a very specific antibody test. It is the same test Moderna started using late in its trials to measure vaccine response. The test measures the presence of the antibodies the Moderna vaccine produces (some antibody tests measure capsid proteins, which are unrelated to the vaccine). It is available through LabCorp and I have the test order ID.
I don’t really have a Primary Care doctor. For the last couple of years I’ve used my two cardiologists for most stuff and was just beginning to try to find a PCP when Covid hit.
Does anyone know a doctor that seems reasonable enough to just order a test because I want it? I will pay for an appointment but I don’t really want to explain the why behind my request and I don’t want to deal with second-guessing, etc. I know exactly what I want and at this point probably know as much about it as the average doctor does.
It’s extremely important to me that I determine whether I was vaccinated. If I wasn’t, then my second dose will really be my first (and last) dose and I won’t be fully protected.
Why wouldn’t you wait until the 2nd dose +2 weeks to see if your body got the full response? I’m not sure how much would show up after just the 1st shot since it’s just priming you for the 2nd shot. I’m definitely no vaccine expert though.
Because its important that I know whether the first dose was real. Once I get a second, there is absolutely no way to know whether the test is measuring the response to the first, second or both doses. If by chance the first dose wasn’t real then I’d still test positive for antibodies but no good way to know if I’m fully protected. Plus there are other ramifications if I didn’t receive a real vaccine…
LabCorp does but they don’t have a way to request this particular test online through that no-doctor process. They have an antibody test that tests for capsid protein antibodies - useless for my purposes.
I’ll call them tomorrow and see if there is a way to get it done.
I’m coming at this from a different perspective, but to me a “reasonable” doctor will need a legitimate medical reason for ordering the test - especially if insurance is involved. Billing any particular service to insurance comes with a lot of prerequisites. It could very well be that “I don’t think I got the real deal” is legitimate justification to bill for a COVID antibody test, that’s between you and the doc ordering the lab and the insurance.
If you just pay out of pocket you can probably just go to an urgent care that offers the test and have it done at your request.
But … if you think you didn’t get the vaccine, you should definitely talk to the county health department where the vaccine was administered, and to the state department of health as well. “Someone” somewhere can request the chain-of-custody documentation of the vaccine you received, freezer logs can be pulled, etc.
Thanks. PCR won’t work. I must have a test that looks for antibodies to the spike protein. And given the situation I’m in, something resembling a chain of custody for the sample might be useful, though that’s a secondary concern.
I think best best is to contact LabCorp directly on Tuesday and she if their in-house quack shack can order the test.
If not I’ll try to get through to my cardiologist but his nurse gatekeeps and is an incompetent idiot. He (the nurse) questioned why I’d need 90 day prescriptions for my meds in March. Took half an hour to convince him to sent the Rx in. Not much is more frustrating than stupid people stubbornly trying to act smart.
I rather doubt this will work for the reason immediately above and also because docs themselves are going to be reluctant to get involved.
What I need, as I’ve said, is a doc who will get me the test without asking questions. It’s a test, not a year’s supply of Adderall. I will pay for the test out of pocket.
FYI - anyone considering going to a free-standing ER and using insurance - double check if they’re in network, either by calling your insurance or asking the facility. They all say they “accept” your insurance or “take” your insurance, but if your insurance has different fees for in-network and out-of-network, you’re in for a big bill at most of these places. And if you go to an ER, you will be charged for an emergency room visit.
Source: I’ve spent the better part of 3 years at work (and still ongoing!) chasing healthcare fraud charges against various free standing ERs in Texas.
We got gas at that gas station the other day. He looks so bored just sitting in his little PODs with his ice chest. He has been there at least a month. I guess people must be using it, or you think he would move on.
