A positive test means that antibodies to COVID-19 were found in your blood, which shows that you were likely exposed to the virus at some point in the past. It doesn’t tell you when you were exposed or where you were exposed. Antibodies take at least 2 weeks to develop after you’re exposed to the virus.
While having antibodies indicates that you’ve built some immunity, a positive test doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re immune to catching COVID-19 again.
Health experts are working hard to determine what level of immunity is needed for protection against the virus and how long the immunity to this virus lasts. For example, we believe immunity to measles lasts a lifetime after one exposure, while immunity to tetanus needs to be boosted with a vaccine every 10 years.
Regardless of your results, you should continue to follow the recommendations from your state, local government and workplace regarding preventive measures like social distancing, masking and good hand washing.