A Dual-Antigen Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Allows the Assessment of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Antibody Seroprevalence in a Low-Transmission Setting.

A Dual-Antigen Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Allows the Assessment of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Antibody Seroprevalence in a Low-Transmission Setting.

The Journal of infectious diseases (2020-10-04)

Sarah M Hicks, Kai Pohl, Teresa Neeman, Hayley A McNamara, Kate M Parsons, Jin-Shu He, Sidra A Ali, Samina Nazir, Louise C Rowntree, Thi H O Nguyen, Katherine Kedzierska, Denise L Doolan, Carola G Vinuesa, Matthew C Cook, Nicholas Coatsworth, Paul S Myles, Florian Kurth, Leif E Sander, Graham J Mann, Russell L Gruen, Amee J George, Elizabeth E Gardiner, Ian A Cockburn

PMID33009908

ABSTRACT

Estimates of seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies have been hampered by inadequate assay sensitivity and specificity. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based approach that combines data about immunoglobulin G responses to both the nucleocapsid and spike receptor binding domain antigens, we show that excellent sensitivity and specificity can be achieved. We used this assay to assess the frequency of virus-specific antibodies in a cohort of elective surgery patients in Australia and estimated seroprevalence in Australia to be 0.28% (95% Confidence Interval, 0-1.15%). These data confirm the low level of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Australia before July 2020 and validate the specificity of our assay.

MATERIALS

Product Number

Brand

Product Description

D1408

Sigma-Aldrich

Dulbecco′s Phosphate Buffered Saline, 10×, Modified, without calcium chloride and magnesium chloride, liquid, sterile-filtered, suitable for cell culture