Opposing Overtesting
Louis M. Weiss highlights pathologists’ role in ensuring appropriate COVID-19 test utilization
“We need to provide our colleagues with information on the meaning of COVID-19 test results in our reporting systems so that tests are not overinterpreted. This issue also needs to be communicated to the public so that testing is not overutilized – stressing the ability to provide testing to those who need it – or overinterpreted. An example of overutilization would be getting serology on everyone who was vaccinated, because such results are not predictive of the ‘degree’ of the immune response and, except in some specific clinical situations, would not alter the care of a patient or drive revaccination.”
– Louis M. Weiss
Professor of Pathology and of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and Codirector of the Einstein Global Health Center at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA.