You'll get questions about antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2...now that point-of-care fingerstick tests are entering the scene.
These serology tests aim to identify a RECENT or PRIOR infection with COVID-19...and many patients are curious if they've had it.
The Assure/FaStep COVID-19 IgG/IgM antibody test is the first to have an "emergency use authorization" (EUA) for use under a CLIA waiver...so it can be done in pharmacies without sending to a lab.
This test gives qualitative or "yes/no" results in about 15 minutes.
But educate about limitations of antibody testing. A positive test does NOT mean the patient's immune or protected from reinfection.
Explain that it's too soon to say how long antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 last. Early evidence suggests they can be detected about 2 weeks after symptoms start...peak at 3 to 4 weeks...and wane over time.
This means it probably doesn't make sense to test for antibodies if symptoms or exposure occurred months ago.
Also point out that while a negative antibody test means a patient has probably not recently had COVID-19, false positives are often a problem...even with tests reported to be highly sensitive and specific.
That's because the likelihood a patient with a positive test truly has antibodies...the test's positive predictive value (PPV)...depends on the prevalence of COVID-19 in a given area.
For example, Assure/FaStep is labeled as 100% sensitive and 98.8% specific. Plugging in a prevalence of 25%...the current estimate for some COVID-19 "hot spots"...results in a PPV of about 97%.
But prevalence is currently below 5% in MOST areas of the United States...making PPV about 80% at best. This means at least 1 in 5 patients who test positive may not actually have antibodies.
Check your health dept website for estimates of local prevalence.
Continue to emphasize physical distancing, handwashing, and mask-wearing...even if patients have a positive antibody test.
Find out more about rapid testing options, including diagnostic tests, in our COVID-19 Point-of-Care Testing chart. Use our chart, COVID-19 Testing FAQs, to interpret and explain results.
- www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-first-point-care-antibody-test-covid-19 (10-19-20)
- www.idsociety.org/practice-guideline/covid-19-guideline-serology/ (10-19-20)
- www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/resources/antibody-tests-guidelines.html (10-19-20)
- www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-emergency-use-authorizations-medical-devices/eua-authorized-serology-test-performance (10-19-20)
- Chart: COVID-19 Point-of-Care Testing
- FAQ: COVID-19 Testing FAQs