The next important step in successfully overcoming the corona pandemic is once again in the hands of medical laboratories: Methods for detecting specific antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
These tests show whether the persons examined have already been immunologically tested for the Covid-19 pathogen. For most viruses, the following applies: an infection that has already occurred protects against re-infection. This is an important statement in view of the desired herd immunity and helps us to bridge the time until a vaccine is available.
As yet, there are no comprehensible studies available that demonstrate the necessary high specificity of an antibody test. The antibodies sought in patient serum must be directed against virus particles specifically found in SARS-CoV-2. They must not cross-react with related corona viruses.
We are already in the process of validating such antibody tests in the laboratories of our Sonic network. For this purpose, we are using samples from patients with a proven acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and sera from patients in whom the virus was already detected one, two or three weeks ago. In these cases an immune response to SARS-CoV-2 is expected and thus a positive antibody result.
As soon as one of the tested test systems has demonstrated the necessary quality, we immediately establish the antibody detection in our laboratories and provide broad information about this milestone in Covid-19 diagnostics.