Political leaders and citizens need a better understanding of how testing works, how testing can go wrong, and why tests don't necessarily indicate immunity to disease.
As we move into the next phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, we also need a better understanding of viral antibodies and how serological tests differ from tests for the novel coronavirus itself.
During the testing process, viral proteins are placed on the surface of a diagnostic plate.
In testing, epidemiologists distinguish between specificity-the ability of a test to tell a person who is truly negative that they are negative-and sensitivity, which is the ability of a test to tell a person who is truly positive that they are positive.
The testing threshold could be set so that it's more likely to miss low levels of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 but also less likely to detect antibodies from past colds that could trigger a false-positive.
Currently, the serology tests coming to market don't tell you how much antibody you have; they can only indicate whether it is above a certain threshold.
Tests are being developed that can quantify antibodies to determine how much is enough to be protective against reinfection.
https://www.city-journal.org/understanding-covid-19-testing
As we move into the next phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, we also need a better understanding of viral antibodies and how serological tests differ from tests for the novel coronavirus itself.
During the testing process, viral proteins are placed on the surface of a diagnostic plate.
In testing, epidemiologists distinguish between specificity-the ability of a test to tell a person who is truly negative that they are negative-and sensitivity, which is the ability of a test to tell a person who is truly positive that they are positive.
The testing threshold could be set so that it's more likely to miss low levels of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 but also less likely to detect antibodies from past colds that could trigger a false-positive.
Currently, the serology tests coming to market don't tell you how much antibody you have; they can only indicate whether it is above a certain threshold.
Tests are being developed that can quantify antibodies to determine how much is enough to be protective against reinfection.
https://www.city-journal.org/understanding-covid-19-testing
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