The study was to evaluate how effective serological tests (antibody tests) are in detecting a durable immune response to SARS-COV-2.

Study to investigate efficacy of antibody testing in patients’ immune response to COVID-19

In October 2020, the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) and French Microbiology Technology Research Institute, BIOASTER, announced a joint clinical study to investigate the efficacy of antibody testing for COVID-19.

The aim was to improve understanding of how the immune response in affected patients changed over time. 

The study evaluated how effective serological tests (antibody tests) are in detecting a durable immune response to SARS-COV-2.

At the time, no vaccines were available, and information on naturally acquired immune responses in people infected with the virus was vital. 

FIND co-convenes the Diagnostics Pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, and this study was part of its work.

The study examined antibody responses of patients seeking care at the Hospices Civils de Lyon and Centre Hospitalier Annecy Genevois in France. 

The plan was also to gather future antibody test data from low- and middle-income countries. 

Dr. Catharina Boehme, CEO of FIND, said at the time that it was not clear how human immunity would change, as people got infected and recovered.