The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised employers not to rely on antibody tests when determining which employees can return to work.
With many viral diseases, a person who overcomes the illness is immune from getting sick from the same virus in the future. This has many employers thinking that workers who present COVID-19 antibodies can return to work without risk. The CDC, however, recently published a guidance warning employers that the same principle has not proven to be true for the coronavirus.
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“Serologic test results should not be used to make decisions about returning persons to the workplace,” the CDC said.
Serologic tests are used to detect antibodies in the blood of a person who overcame an illness. The CDC found two areas of concern for companies considering relying on such tests for workers. First, the accuracy of the tests has been called into question, as current tests have a tendency toward false positives. The CDC said that “less than half” of those who tested positive actually had the antibodies.
Secondly, the CDC has not gathered significant evidence that people are immune from catching the virus again following a full recovery from a previous infection. Even if patients do obtain some immunity, there is no evidence as to how long that immunity may last.
“Serologic testing should not be used to determine immune status in individuals until the presence, durability, and duration of immunity is established,” the CDC said.
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The CDC also said any employee who recovered from the coronavirus should continue to use all recommended personal protective equipment, writing, “There should be no change in clinical practice or use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by health care workers and first responders who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibody.”
The CDC said that the same guidance for employers should be applied to schools or prisons looking to readmit students following a case.
“Serologic test results should not be used to make decisions about grouping persons residing in or being admitted to congregate settings, such as schools, dormitories, or correctional facilities,” the CDC said.
