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Review
. 2021 Feb 16;2(2):100191.
doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100191. Epub 2021 Jan 14.

SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing for estimating COVID-19 prevalence in the population

Thomas Vogl  1   2 , Sigal Leviatan  1   2 , Eran Segal  1   2
Affiliations
Review

SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing for estimating COVID-19 prevalence in the population

Thomas Vogl et al. Cell Rep Med. .

Abstract

Reliable antibody testing against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has the potential to uncover the population-wide spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is critical for making informed healthcare and economic decisions. Here we review different types of antibody tests available for SARS-CoV-2 and their application for population-scale testing. Biases because of varying test accuracy, results of ongoing large-scale serological studies, and use of antibody testing for monitoring development of herd immunity are summarized. Although current SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing efforts have generated valuable insights, the accuracy of serological tests and the selection criteria for the tested cohorts need to be evaluated carefully.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Figure 1
Figure 1
The effect of sensitivity and specificity on antibody testing results is linked to the true prevalence in the population (A) Schematic overview of the effect of test sensitivity/specificity at different prevalence in the population, illustrating false positives and false negatives. Red icons represent true positive individuals and gray icons true negatives. (B) Effect of test sensitivity and specificity on the reported prevalence by the test as a function of true prevalence in the population.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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