Refereed journal article or data article (A1)
Development of a Fast SARS-CoV-2 IgG ELISA, Based on Receptor-Binding Domain, and Its Comparative Evaluation Using Temporally Segregated Samples From RT-PCR Positive Individuals
List of Authors: Mehdi Farha, Chattopadhyay Souvick, Thiruvengadam Ramachandran, Yadav Sarla, Kumar Manjit, Sinha Sangita Kumari, Goswami Sandeep, Kshetrapal Pallavi, Wadhwa Nitya, Natchu Uma Chandramouli, Sopory Shailaja, Desiraju Bapu Koundinya, Pandey Anil K, Das Asim, Verma Nikhil, Sharma Nandini, Sharma Pragya, Bhartia Vandita, Gosain Mudita, Lodha Rakesh, Lamminmäki Urpo, Shrivastava Tripti, Bhatnagar Shinjini, Batra Gaurav
Publisher: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
Publication year: 2021
Journal: Frontiers in Microbiology
Journal name in source: FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
Journal acronym: FRONT MICROBIOL
Article number: ARTN 618097
Volume number: 11
Number of pages: 12
ISSN: 1664-302X
eISSN: 1664-302X
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.618097
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/53390692
SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection assays are crucial for gathering seroepidemiological information and monitoring the sustainability of antibody response against the virus. The SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein's receptor-binding domain (RBD) is a very specific target for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies detection. Moreover, many neutralizing antibodies are mapped to this domain, linking antibody response to RBD with neutralizing potential. Detection of IgG antibodies, rather than IgM or total antibodies, against RBD is likely to play a larger role in understanding antibody-mediated protection and vaccine response. Here we describe a rapid and stable RBD-based IgG ELISA test obtained through extensive optimization of the assay components and conditions. The test showed a specificity of 99.79% (95% CI: 98.82-99.99%) in a panel of pre-pandemic samples (n = 470) from different groups, i.e., pregnancy, fever, HCV, HBV, and autoantibodies positive. Test sensitivity was evaluated using sera from SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positive individuals (n = 312) and found to be 53.33% (95% CI: 37.87-68.34%), 80.47% (95% CI: 72.53-86.94%), and 88.24% (95% CI: 82.05-92.88%) in panel 1 (days 0-13), panel 2 (days 14-20) and panel 3 (days 21-27), respectively. Higher sensitivity was achieved in symptomatic individuals and reached 92.14% (95% CI: 86.38-96.01%) for panel 3. Our test, with a shorter runtime, showed higher sensitivity than parallelly tested commercial ELISAs for SARS-CoV-2-IgG, i.e., Euroimmun and Zydus, even when equivocal results in the commercial ELISAs were considered positive. None of the tests, which are using different antigens, could detect anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgGs in 10.5% RT-PCR positive individuals by the fourth week, suggesting the lack of IgG response.
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