Schrödinger’s Worker: Are They Positive or Negative for SARS-CoV-2?

• Main Authors: Federico Meloni, Marcello Campagna, Angelo Restivo, Pierluigi Cocco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; serologic tests; reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; sensitivity and specificity; Predictive value of tests
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/17/6316

In these days of 2020, tests for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, and their use in the context of health surveillance of workers, are becoming popular. Nevertheless, their sensitivity and specificity could vary on the basis of the type of test used and on the moment of infection of the subject tested. The aim of this viewpoint paper is to make employers, workers, occupational physicians, and public health specialists think about the limits of diagnostic tests currently available, and the possible implication related to the erroneous and incautious assignment of “immunity passports” or “risk-free certificates” to workers during screening campaigns in workplaces.