Long-Term Monitoring of the Antibody Response to a SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Abstract

A group of 110 patients from the West Bohemian region who had been infected with COVID-19 was monitored for the purposes of this study. We focused on cases of mild or moderate COVID-19; statistically the most likely to occur. Day zero was defined as the day on which a positive PCR test was first established. The mean length of observation was 6.5 months, the maximum length 12 months. The first blood samples were taken from a smaller cohort during the 1-3 months following the first positive PCR test. We assumed that SARS-CoV-2 antibodies would be present during this period and therefore a limited number of samples were taken for the purpose of detecting antibodies. More samples were collected, starting 4 months after the first positive PCR test. A subsequent set of blood samples were drawn, mostly 6 months after the first ones. Our study confirmed the presence of total IgG SARS-CoV-2 antibodies up to 1 year after the onset of the disease. The peak of antibody production was observed in the third month after the first positive PCR test. A mathematical estimate of the median duration of antibody positivity was calculated to be 18 months from the onset of the COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; antibody; immunoassay; nucleocapsid protein; serological diagnostics; time period.

Figure 1

Individual curves of the levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Figure 2

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the observed group of patients over the course of a year.