TY - JOUR
T1 - Application of SARS-CoV-2 Serology to Address Public Health Priorities
AU - Sherman, Amy C.
AU - Smith, Teresa
AU - Zhu, Yerun
AU - Taibl, Kaitlin
AU - Howard-Anderson, Jessica
AU - Landay, Taylor
AU - Pisanic, Nora
AU - Kleinhenz, Jennifer
AU - Simon, Trevor W.
AU - Espinoza, Daniel
AU - Edupuganti, Neena
AU - Hammond, Skyler
AU - Rouphael, Nadine
AU - Shen, Huifeng
AU - Fairley, Jessica K.
AU - Edupuganti, Srilatha
AU - Cardona-Ospina, Jaime A.
AU - Rodriguez-Morales, Alfonso J.
AU - Premkumar, Lakshmanane
AU - Wrammert, Jens
AU - Tarleton, Rick
AU - Fridkin, Scott
AU - Heaney, Christopher D.
AU - Scherer, Erin M.
AU - Collins, Matthew H.
N1 - Funding Information:
AS was supported by the NIH Vaccinology training grant (T32AI074492). Support for specimen collection and processing of COPE samples was provided by the Georgia Emerging Infections Program, which was funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Emerging Infections Program [U50CK000485]. JH-A was supported by the Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group fellowship (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases UM1AI104681). RT and HS were supported by grant R01AI125738 from the National Institutes of Health and a University of Georgia Athletic Association endowment to RT. Development of multiplex saliva testing was supported by an NIH grant to CH and MC (R21AI139784).
Funding Information:
AS was supported by the NIH Vaccinology training grant (T32AI074492). Support for specimen collection and processing
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2021 Sherman, Smith, Zhu, Taibl, Howard-Anderson, Landay, Pisanic, Kleinhenz, Simon, Espinoza, Edupuganti, Hammond, Rouphael, Shen, Fairley, Edupuganti, Cardona-Ospina, Rodriguez-Morales, Premkumar, Wrammert, Tarleton, Fridkin, Heaney, Scherer and Collins.
PY - 2021/11/23
Y1 - 2021/11/23
N2 - Background: Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 can be detected by various testing platforms, but a detailed understanding of assay performance is critical. Methods: We developed and validated a simple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect IgG binding to the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2, which was then applied for surveillance. ELISA results were compared to a set of complimentary serologic assays using a large panel of clinical research samples. Results: The RBD ELISA exhibited robust performance in ROC curve analysis (AUC> 0.99; Se = 89%, Sp = 99.3%). Antibodies were detected in 23/353 (6.5%) healthcare workers, 6/9 RT-PCR-confirmed mild COVID-19 cases, and 0/30 non-COVID-19 cases from an ambulatory site. RBD ELISA showed a positive correlation with neutralizing activity (p = <0.0001, R2 = 0.26). Conclusions: We applied a validated SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG ELISA in multiple contexts and performed orthogonal testing on samples. This study demonstrates the utility of a simple serologic assay for detecting prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly as a tool for efficiently testing large numbers of samples as in population surveillance. Our work also highlights that precise understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunity at the individual level, particularly with wide availability of vaccination, may be improved by orthogonal testing and/or more complex assays such as multiplex bead assays.
AB - Background: Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 can be detected by various testing platforms, but a detailed understanding of assay performance is critical. Methods: We developed and validated a simple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect IgG binding to the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2, which was then applied for surveillance. ELISA results were compared to a set of complimentary serologic assays using a large panel of clinical research samples. Results: The RBD ELISA exhibited robust performance in ROC curve analysis (AUC> 0.99; Se = 89%, Sp = 99.3%). Antibodies were detected in 23/353 (6.5%) healthcare workers, 6/9 RT-PCR-confirmed mild COVID-19 cases, and 0/30 non-COVID-19 cases from an ambulatory site. RBD ELISA showed a positive correlation with neutralizing activity (p = <0.0001, R2 = 0.26). Conclusions: We applied a validated SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG ELISA in multiple contexts and performed orthogonal testing on samples. This study demonstrates the utility of a simple serologic assay for detecting prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly as a tool for efficiently testing large numbers of samples as in population surveillance. Our work also highlights that precise understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunity at the individual level, particularly with wide availability of vaccination, may be improved by orthogonal testing and/or more complex assays such as multiplex bead assays.
KW - ELISA
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - antibody response
KW - public health
KW - serology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85120917115&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85120917115&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpubh.2021.744535
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2021.744535
M3 - Article
C2 - 34888282
AN - SCOPUS:85120917115
SN - 2296-2565
VL - 9
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
JF - Frontiers in Public Health
M1 - 744535
ER -