Figure 1.

Current Sensitivity and Specificity of SARS-CoV-2 Tests Allow for Problems If Overinterpreted

The sensitivity of RT-PCR is reported to be only ∼80% in practice. Thus, someone infected with SARS-CoV-2 may test negative. Thus, negative tests should not be overinterpreted for individuals who are likely to be positive by other indications. The specificity of serology tests may be 95%, which still suggests a 5% false positive rate. Thus, the testing of a population such as a workplace may falsely suggest 5% of the non-infected population has been infected.