Population and Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK.
Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
Soc Sci Med. 2021 Mar;273:113778. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113778. Epub 2021 Feb 16.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, antibody testing was proposed by several countries as a surveillance tool to monitor the spread of the virus and potentially to ease restrictions. In the UK, antibody testing originally formed the third pillar of the UK Government's COVID-19 testing programme and was thought to offer hope that those with a positive antibody test result could return to normal life. However, at that time scientists and the public had little understanding of the longevity of COVID-19 antibodies, and whether they provided immunity to reinfection or transmission of the virus.
This paper explores the UK public's understanding of COVID-19 testing, perceived test accuracy, the meaning of a positive test result, willingness to adhere to restrictive measures in response to an antibody test result and how they expect other people to respond.
On-line synchronous focus groups were conducted in April/May 2020 during the first wave of the pandemic and the most stringent period of the COVID-19 restrictive measures. Data were analysed thematically.
There was confusion in responses as to whether those with a positive or negative test should return to work and which restrictive measures would apply to them or their household members. Participants raised concerns about the wider public response to positive antibody test results and the adverse behavioural effects. There were worries that antibody tests could create a divided society particularly if those with a positive test result were given greater freedoms or chose to disregard the restrictive measures.
Should these tests be offered more widely, information should be developed in consultation with the public to ensure clarity and address uncertainty about test results and subsequent behaviours.
在 COVID-19 大流行期间，一些国家提出了抗体检测作为监测病毒传播的工具，并有可能放宽限制。在英国，抗体检测最初是英国政府 COVID-19 检测计划的第三大支柱，被认为有望为那些抗体检测结果呈阳性的人提供恢复正常生活的希望。然而，当时科学家和公众对 COVID-19 抗体的持久性以及它们是否提供对再次感染或病毒传播的免疫力知之甚少。
本文探讨了英国公众对 COVID-19 检测的理解、对检测准确性的看法、阳性检测结果的含义、对根据抗体检测结果遵守限制措施的意愿，以及他们期望其他人如何做出反应。
在 2020 年 4 月/5 月的大流行第一波和 COVID-19 限制措施最严格期间，进行了在线同步焦点小组讨论。对数据进行了主题分析。
对于阳性或阴性检测的人是否应该返回工作岗位，以及哪些限制措施适用于他们或他们的家庭成员，人们的反应存在混淆。参与者对广泛的公众对阳性抗体检测结果的反应以及不良行为后果表示担忧。人们担心抗体检测会造成社会分裂，特别是如果那些检测结果呈阳性的人获得更大的自由或选择无视限制措施。
如果这些测试更广泛地提供，应该与公众协商制定信息，以确保对测试结果和随后的行为有明确的认识，并解决不确定性。
