You asked, we answered: COVID testing on immunocompromised patients

Question:

Is there a need to perform COVID antibody testing on immunocompromised patients after they have been vaccinated (e.g. in transplant patients)?

Answer:

Such testing is not recommended for the following reasons:

• Many antibody tests do not measure antibodies to the spike protein (which is what’s generated after vaccination)
• Lack of an antibody response does not necessarily indicate a lack of vaccine response
• Even in patients who may be profoundly immunosuppressed and who may lack an antibody response, repeat vaccine doses or vaccination with a different type of COVID-19 vaccine is not recommend
• Instead, given the impact of vaccination of the spread of COVID-19, the best way to protect these patients is to have all close / household contacts vaccinated.

More guidance on this topic is available on the American Society of Transplantation website:  https://www.myast.org/statement-covid-19-vaccination-solid-organ-transplant-recipients#