• Amir Qaseem, Jennifer Yost, Itziar Etxeandia-Ikobaltzeta, Mary Ann Forciea, George M Abraham, Matthew C Miller, Adam J Obley, Linda L Humphrey, Scientific Medical Policy Committee of the American College of Physicians, Robert M Centor, Elie A Akl, Rebecca Andrews, Thomas A Bledsoe, Ray Haeme, and Devan L Kansagara.
• American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (A.Q., I.E.).
• Ann. Intern. Med. 2021 Jun 1; 174 (6): 828835828-835.

DescriptionThe widespread availability of SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests raises important questions for clinicians, patients, and public health professionals related to the appropriate use and interpretation of these tests. The Scientific Medical Policy Committee (SMPC) of the American College of Physicians developed these rapid, living practice points to summarize the current and best available evidence on the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, antibody durability after initial infection with SARS-CoV-2, and antibody protection against reinfection with SARS-CoV-2.MethodsThe SMPC developed these rapid, living practice points based on a rapid and living systematic evidence review done by the Portland VA Research Foundation and funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Ongoing literature surveillance is planned through December 2021. When new studies are identified and a full update of the evidence review is published, the SMPC will assess the new evidence and any effect on the practice points.Practice Point 1Do not use SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Practice Point 2Antibody tests can be useful for the purpose of estimating community prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Practice Point 3Current evidence is uncertain to predict presence, level, or durability of natural immunity conferred by SARS-CoV-2 antibodies against reinfection (after SARS-CoV-2 infection).

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