SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing for estimating COVID-19 prevalence in the population

Reliable antibody testing against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has the potential to uncover the population-wide spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is critical for making informed healthcare and economic decisions. Here we review different types of antibody tests available for SARS-CoV-2 and their application for population-scale testing. Biases because of varying test accuracy, results of ongoing large-scale serological studies, and use of antibody testing for monitoring development of herd immunity are summarized. Although current SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing efforts have generated valuable insights, the accuracy of serological tests and the selection criteria for the tested cohorts need to be evaluated carefully.