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

Abstract

\n Reliable antibody testing against SARS-CoV-2 has the potential to uncover the population wide spread of 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 due to varying test accuracy, results of ongoing large-scale serological studies, and the use of antibody testing for monitoring the development of herd immunity are summarized. While current SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing efforts have generated valuable insights, the accuracy of serological tests and the selection criteria of the tested cohorts need to be carefully evaluated.\n