The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LAC DPH) issued a health advisory on April 16, 2020. This advisory details the need for caution regarding the use of serology tests to determine past or present SARS CoV-2 infection and immunity in patients.
There is great interest in using serology tests to determine past or present SARS CoV-2 infection and immunity in patients.
At this point in time, however, there are no antibody tests that have been validated for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the utility of the currently available serologic assays has not been established.
Providers should use caution when interpreting the results of serologic tests for SARS CoV-2 until there is additional data on their best use because of concerns of both false negative and false positive results.
Read the full LAC DPH Health Advisory: SARS-CoV-2 Serology.
Because guidance for the prevention and management of COVID-19 may change, providers and staff are encouraged to visit the Los Angeles Health Alert Network (LAHAN) website frequently. You can also subscribe to the LAHAN to receive alerts, advisories, and updates from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
⇒ Keep up to date by visiting the LAC DPH Coronavirus Webpage for Health Professionals.
Key Messages
- Results from serologic tests should not be used as the sole basis to diagnose or exclude SARS-CoV-2 infection or to inform infection status.
- Some serology tests are being falsely marketed as "FDA authorized" or "FDA approved" and as CLIA-waived point of care (POC) tests. No serology tests are currently approved for use in the POC setting.
- At the current time, healthcare providers should not report any serology tests results to LAC DPH. Laboratories should report only the results from serologic tests that have an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Labs should report both positive and negative results through Electronic Laboratory Reporting (ELR) or fax.
Reporting
Reporting COVID-19 in L.A. County Residents
COVID-19 associated deaths must be reported by healthcare providers immediately.
- Phone 1-888-397-3993 or 1-213-240-7821 -or-
- Complete the Novel Coronavirus Death Report form and send via secure email to COVIDdeath@ph.lacounty.gov. When completing the form, please make sure to fill in all sections including if the family has been informed.
- It is the responsibility of the reporting provider to ensure that the next of kin has been notified of the death and of the COVID-19 result.
All other COVID-19 cases must be reported by healthcare providers within one day.
Providers should complete all sections of the Medical Provider COVID-19 Report Form* and then submit via fax or secure email:
- Fax to 310-605-4274 -or-
- Email to COVID19@ph.lacounty.gov
*Please be sure to use the revised forms dated 4/4/20 (death report) and 4/3/20 (case report).
Long Beach Health and Human Services:
- To report a case of COVID-19, fill out the Long Beach COVID-19 Report Form and fax the form and a copy of the positive laboratory result to 1-562-570-4374 or send by secure email to LBEpi@longbeach.gov. To report a death, please fill out the Long Beach COVID-19 Death Report.
Pasadena Public Health Department:
- To report a case of COVID-19, fill out the COVID-19 Report Form at the Pasadena Public Health Department website. Fax the form to 1.626.744.6115 and call 1.626.744.6089 on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, or for after-hours call 1.626.744.6043.