In this article, the researchers provide reasons why surveys of how far the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has spread based on antibody testing may underestimate the number of people previously infected by the virus.

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Dr. Dipender Gill from St George's, along with researchers from the Medical Research Council Biostatistics Unit (part of the University of Cambridge) and University Hospital Wales in Cardiff, have published an editorial piece in the British Medical Journal titled "Are we underestimating seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2?"

Seroprevalence surveys estimate the proportion of the population that have previously been infected with a virus by measuring the presence of antibodies produced to fight off the virus. This is important for calculating severity measures such as the hospitalization rate and fatality rate, as well as to understand the impact of public health policies, such as social distancing and mask wearing. They also inform our progress towards herd immunity, and the likelihood of a "second wave" of infections.