Actress Alyssa Milano says she has tested positive for coronavirus antibodies, despite twice testing negative for the virus itself when she was sick.
On Wednesday, the "Charmed" alum shared her coronavirus story in a lengthy Instagram post detailing her myriad symptoms, which included a loss of smell, trouble breathing, drastic weight loss, "horrible" headaches and a low-grade fever. She was ill during the months of March and April.
"I had never been this kind of sick. Everything hurt," Milano captioned a photo of herself wearing an oxygen mask. "I basically had every Covid symptom. At the very end of march I took two covid19 tests and both were negative. I also took a covid antibody test (the finger prick test) after I was feeling a bit better. NEGATIVE."
Despite her initial test results, Milano said she suffered "lingering symptoms like, vertigo, stomach abnormalities, irregular periods, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, zero short term memory, and general malaise" for about four months before getting a blood draw _ which came back positive for coronavirus antibodies.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, a positive test result for antibodies "shows you may have antibodies from an infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. However, there is a chance a positive result means that you have antibodies from an infection with a virus from the same family of viruses (called coronaviruses), such as the one that causes the common cold."
"I just want you to be aware that our testing system is flawed and we don't know the real numbers," wrote Milano, who suspects she had COVID-19. "I also want you to know, this illness is not a hoax. I thought I was dying. It felt like I was dying. I will be donating my plasma with hopes that I might save a life. Please take care of yourselves."
Earlier this week, Milano announced on Instagram that a reboot of the 1980s sitcom "Who's the Boss" is in the works. In the original, Milano played Tony Danza's onscreen daughter, Samantha Micelli, for eight seasons from 1984 to 1992.
"I've wanted to share this for so long and now I can!" she captioned the announcement, along with a crying emoji. "We feel the time is right to tell the story of where these amazing characters are today. Can't wait to share their stories with you. So happy."
