Is Serology Test Effective to Deal with Coronavirus?

COVID-19. Photo: CDC
COVID-19. Photo: CDC

In many coronavirus (Covid-19) hotspots in the world, the local health agencies are increasingly relying on serology tests to contain the spread of the virus.

However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cautions that at this stage serology test may not be the right containment remedy.

The CDC has developed a laboratory test to help estimate how many people in the United States have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.

Clinicians and researchers refer to this as a serology test, and many commercial laboratories call it an antibody test. CDC is using this serologic (antibody) test to evaluate the performance of commercial antibody tests. CDC says it will develop guidance for the use of antibody tests in clinical and public health settings.

Download All Issues of Covid Health Bulletin
April 16-30, 2020 May 1-15, 2020 May 16-31, 2020
June 1-15, 2020 June 16-30, 2020

An antibody test looks for the presence of antibodies, which are specific proteins made in response to infections. Antibodies are detected in the blood of people who are tested after infection; they show an immune response to the infection. Antibody test results are especially important for detecting previous infections in people who had few or no symptoms.

CDC says it does not know if the antibodies that result from SARS-CoV-2 infection will provide someone with protection (immunity) from getting infected again. If antibodies do provide immunity, CDC does not know how much antibody is protective or how long protection might last. CDC scientists are currently conducting studies to answer these questions.

Courtesy: CDC

Support RMN News Service for Independent Fearless Journalism

In today’s media world controlled by corporates and politicians, it is extremely difficult for independent editorial voices to survive. Raman Media Network (RMN) News Service has been maintaining editorial freedom and offering objective content for the past more than 12 years despite enormous pressures and extreme threats. In order to serve you fearlessly in this cut-throat world, RMN News Service urges you to support us financially with your donations. You may please click here and choose the amount that you want to donate. Thank You. Rakesh Raman, Editor, RMN News Service.

RMN News

Rakesh Raman