Seroepidemiologic Study Designs for Determining SARS-COV-2 Transmission and Immunity

Seroepidemiologic Study Designs for Determining SARS-COV-2 Transmission and Immunity

Hannah Clapham, James Hay, Isobel Routledge, Saki Takahashi, Marc Choisy, Derek Cummings, Bryan Grenfell, C. Jessica E. Metcalf, Michael Mina, Isabel Rodriguez Barraquer, Henrik Salje, Clarence C. Tam

Serologic studies are crucial for clarifying dynamics of the coronavirus disease pandemic. Past work on serologic studies (e.g., during influenza pandemics) has made relevant contributions, but specific conditions of the current situation require adaptation. Although detection of antibodies to measure exposure, immunity, or both seems straightforward conceptually, numerous challenges exist in terms of sample collection, what the presence of antibodies actually means, and appropriate analysis and interpretation to account for test accuracy and sampling biases. Successful deployment of serologic studies depends on type and performance of serologic tests, population studied, use of adequate study designs, and appropriate analysis and interpretation of data. We highlight key questions that serologic studies can help answer at different times, review strengths and limitations of different assay types and study designs, and discuss methods for rapid sharing and analysis of serologic data to determine global transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

2020

Viruses, Respiratory Infections, covid-19, SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, coronavirus disease

10.3201/eid2609.201840

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Medicine, Infectious and parasitic diseases