The results of Major League Baseball’s coronavirus antibody test revealed unexpected results, with few league employees testing positive for antibodies.
Of 5,754 people tested, only 60 tested positive for the antibodies, a rate of 0.7 percent. That is a lower rate than similar studies in California have found.
“I was expecting a larger number,” said Stanford professor Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, via Jeff Passan of ESPN. “It shows the value of doing the science as opposed to guessing.”
The antibody tests are meant to reveal individuals who had COVID-19, even if they didn’t know it, due to the body’s production of antibodies to fight off the infection. 70 percent of those who tested positive were asymptomatic.
Bhattacharya cautioned that the results may not be representative of the general population. 60% of those surveyed were men and 80% were white, and MLB’s workforce is primarily white collar. COVID-19 has impacted minority and lower-income populations at a higher rate.
This is the largest study of its kind conducted so far in the United States. The NBA is urging its players to help in similar efforts.
