Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global pandemic The application of point of care serological testing can help determine past infection and assist healthcare workers assess patient risk Method: An observational study of 114 subjects in North Suburban Chicago, Illinois, was performed using the Clungene (R) lateral flow immunoassay (LFI) Patients' PCR test results and clinical symptoms were used to compare the seroconversion rate of this patient population with the surrounding community Results: Excluding 1 aberrant result, there was 100% positive agreement (10) between PCR and antibody (IgG or IgM) test results There were 7 patients who did not have a prior PCR test who were positive for IgG;5 of the 7 had clinical symptoms consistent with possible exposure and 2 were asymptomatic There was 1 person with a suspected exposure to an infected person who was IgM positive Ninety-five asymptomatic patients were seronegative The overall rate of 15 9% seroconversion (IgG or IgM) is consistent with other community-based testing results in the North Suburban Chicago, Illinois area Conclusion: Rapid screening tests to identify antibody positive patients recovered from coronavirus disease-2019 can be a useful tool for healthcare professionals to determine or confirm past infection Statement of novelty: Limited data is available on the use of point of care serological testing to assist healthcare professionals with the assessment of their patient population regarding past SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and seroconversion The present study successfully investigated the use of a point of care antibody test in a physician's office to determine which patients have developed antibodies, indicating an immune response to SARS-CoV-2, and to assist with decisions on whether patients should pursue normal social and workplace activities
Observational study of SARS-CoV-2 antibody immune response in a cohort of patients at a North Suburban Chicago, Illinois, in a physician's practice