Detection of immunoglobulin response to COVID-19 vaccination using a novel rapid fingerstick assay

Abstract

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged as a global pandemic resulting in significant mortality and morbidity. COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be highly effective in preventing COVID-19 infections and significantly reducing disease severity and mortality. We report on a novel COVID-19 antibody assay using a unique platform to rapidly detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with a drop of fingerstick blood in a subject following COVID-19 vaccination. We show early detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies post vaccination and persistence of detectable antibodies for at least 6 months. Rapid point of care COVID-19 antibody tests might have a role in assessing the appearance and durability of immune response following COVID-19 vaccination.

Keywords: Antibody; COVID-19; Fingerstick; Immunity; SARS-CoV-2; Serology; Test; Vaccination.

Fig. 1

(A) A schematic diagram depicting the ADEXUSDx® COVID-19 Test platform. Blood is applied to the Sample Application Zone until it reaches the Fill Line. Plasma diffuses beyond the Fill Line through a membrane. A visual “T” line indicates the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and a “C” line indicates a positive procedural control. (B) Detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using ADEXUSDx® COVID-19 Test in a 46-year-old man following vaccination with the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. No antibodies were detected on Day 3 post vaccine Dose 1, but anti-SARS-CoV-2 started to appear on Day 7 and persisted at every time point through Month 6 (the last time point in this study).