Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

February 25, 2021

Association of SARS-CoV-2 Seropositive Antibody Test With Risk of Future Infection

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In a cohort study of over 3.2 million US patients with a SARS-CoV-2 antibody test result (88% negative), the ratio of seropositive to seronegative patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) decreased from 3% within 30 days of the antibody test to 0.1% after at least 90 days following the antibody test. Among seropositive patients, 18% converted to seronegative over the follow-up period. The authors suggest that a higher likelihood of NAAT positivity among seropositive patients is consistent with prolonged viral RNA shedding, but that seroconversion may reduce future risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Harvey et al. (Feb 24, 2021). Association of SARS-CoV-2 Seropositive Antibody Test With Risk of Future Infection. JAMA Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.0366