… or it’s showing that a lot of people have had ordinary colds in the Bay Area.
The problem with antibody tests is that antibodies tend to cross-react with similar antigens. They did not use an FDA approved diagnostic grade kit, but a research grade kit. The standards for an FDA approved kit are far higher than those for a research grade kit. And coronaviruses are structurally similar to each other.
OTOH, that could explain some of the mild or asymptomatic cases. In spite of the Chinese Frankenstein Monster being novel, it could still have some antigens similar to the mild “cold” viruses that run around the country every winter, meaning some folks could already be partially immune. Thus, the antibody prevalence.
Are you saying that while test results are positive, they’re not COVID19 specific, therefore not indicative of true results?
Yes serous question