Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

November 25, 2020

Decline in SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies After Mild Infection Among Frontline Health Care Personnel in a Multistate Hospital Network — 12 States, April–August 2020

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  • Among 156 frontline health care personnel who had positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody test results in spring 2020, 146 (94%) experienced a decline in antibody concentrations at repeat testing approximately 60 days later. In addition, 28% had seroreverted (negative antibody test). Individuals with higher initial antibody responses were more likely to have antibodies detected at the follow-up test than were those who had a lower initial antibody response. The authors note that these results suggest that cross-sectional serology testing may underestimate the number of people who had previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. They also suggest that convalescent plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients for use in treatment should be collected within 60 days of convalescence.

Self et al. (Nov 27, 2020). Decline in SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies After Mild Infection Among Frontline Health Care Personnel in a Multistate Hospital Network — 12 States, April–August 2020. MMWR. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6947a2