Rapid tests of antibodies to find out whether a person had COVID-19 serves a useful purpose. When the most widely respected Cochrane review examined these tests they could collect data on only 27 tests, a fraction of the over 279 (as on May 21, 2020) tests in the market. They reviewed 54 articles.These studies had several weaknesses.The review showed that antibody tests could have a useful role in detecting if someone has had COVID-19, but the timing of when the tests are used is important.The tests are better at detecting COVID-19 in people two or more weeks after their symptoms started, but we do not know how well they work more than five weeks after symptoms started.Further research is needed into the use of antibody tests in people recovering from COVID-19 infection, and in people who have experienced mild symptoms or who never experienced symptoms.
“Since test, track and treat is the only way to prevent spread of infection and save lives, it is imperative that testing should be made widely available to all symptomatic individuals in every part of the country and contact tracing mechanisms for containment of infection are further strengthened. ICMR advises all concerned State Governments, Public and Private Institutions to take required steps to scale up testing for COVID-19 by deploying combination of various tests.”An ICMR advisory quoted,
The Cochrane Review on the topic provides authentic information to the policy makers worldwide including those in India to make them aware of the status of the technology and the improvements needed for its proper use.
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https://www.m3india.in/contents/editor_pick/140439/how-accurate-antibody-tests-are-for-detecting
ksparthasarathy 