CDC Reports CT Coronavirus Antibody Test Results

CONNECTICUT — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released the results of the first six sites involved in its large-scale seroprevalence survey, which include Connecticut.

The survey tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Some governments have suggested that the detection of these antibodies could serve as the basis for an "immunity passport" or "risk-free certificate" that would enable people to travel or to return to work assuming that they are protected against re-infection, according to the World Health Organization.

In Connecticut, the survey estimates that 4.94 percent of the state's population or 176,700 people were positive for antibodies, after age and sex-standardizing to census data and after accounting for the sensitivity and specificity of the CDC assay used. The samples were collected between April 26 and May 3. Connecticut had the second-highest seroprevalence in the first round of the study. Blood samples from approximately 1,400 people in the state were tested.

The federal agency partnered with commercial laboratories for the survey that tested de-identified clinical blood specimens for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The survey included people who had blood specimens tested for reasons unrelated to COVID-19, such as for a routine or sick visit blood test by commercial laboratories in participating areas.

Reported cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection likely underestimate the prevalence of infection in
affected communities, according to the CDC's report. Large-scale seroprevalence studies provide better estimates of the proportion of the population previously infected.

More data on the survey can be found on the CDC’s website.