New resource on serologic tests and surveillance strategy for COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently launched a webpage to provide information about an agency-developed serologic test to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. CDC says its test has a specificity of greater than 99% and a sensitivity of 96% based on initial tests.

The test is not currently designed for individual use. Rather, CDC plans to use its antibody testing as part of a broad surveillance effort to better understand how much of the U.S. population has been infected with SARS-CoV-2 and how the virus is spreading through the population over time.

CDC is also collaborating with other government agencies to evaluate commercially developed serology assays. More information about these studies can be found on the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer webpage.