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. 2020 Aug;81(2):e6-e10.
doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.04.033. Epub 2020 May 7.

Dynamic profile for the detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using four immunochromatographic assays

Baptiste Demey  1 , Nagib Daher  2 , Catherine François  1 , Jean-Philippe Lanoix  3 , Gilles Duverlie  1 , Sandrine Castelain  1 , Etienne Brochot  4
Affiliations

Dynamic profile for the detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using four immunochromatographic assays

Baptiste Demey et al. J Infect. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

In order to fight the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic infection, there is a growing need and demand for diagnostic tools that are complementary and different from the RT-PCR currently in use. Multiple serological tests are or will be very soon available but need to be evaluated and validated. We have thus tested 4 immunochromatographic tests for the detection of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. In addition, we assessed the kinetics of antibody appearance using these assays in 22 patients after they were tested positive by RT-PCR. We observed great heterogeneity in antibody detection post-symptom onset. The median antibody detection time was between 8 and 10 days according to the manufacturers. All the tests showed a sensitivity of 60 to 80% on day 10 and 100% on day 15. In addition, a single cross-reaction was observed with other human coronavirus infections. Thus, immunochromatographic tests for the detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies may have their place for the diagnostic panel of COVID-19.

Keywords: Antibody; COVID-19; Lateral flow assay; SARS-CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest All authors have no conflict of interest to declare

Figures

Figure 1
Fig. 1
Design of these 4 immunochromatographic tests for the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
Figure 2
Fig. 2
Delay between symptoms onset and first SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (IgM or IgG) detection by the four assays. Dots represent each positive assay performed. Red bars represent median with interquartile range for delay (days) between symptoms onset and antibodies detection. The number of positive patients over the total number of tested patients is indicated in brackets.
Figure 3
Fig. 3
Sensitivity of different assays for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in relation to time between onset of symptoms and assay performing. (A) represents results for IgM and IgG testing separately. (B) represents results admitting positivity of the assay if IgM and/or IgG are detected.
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Comment in

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