Multiplexed, quantitative serological profiling of COVID-19 from blood by a point-of-care test

Sci Adv. 2021 Jun 25;7(26):eabg4901. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abg4901. Print 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Highly sensitive, specific, and point-of-care (POC) serological assays are an essential tool to manage coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we report on a microfluidic POC test that can profile the antibody response against multiple severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antigens-spike S1 (S1), nucleocapsid (N), and the receptor binding domain (RBD)-simultaneously from 60 μl of blood, plasma, or serum. We assessed the levels of antibodies in plasma samples from 31 individuals (with longitudinal sampling) with severe COVID-19, 41 healthy individuals, and 18 individuals with seasonal coronavirus infections. This POC assay achieved high sensitivity and specificity, tracked seroconversion, and showed good concordance with a live virus microneutralization assay. We can also detect a prognostic biomarker of severity, IP-10 (interferon-γ-induced protein 10), on the same chip. Because our test requires minimal user intervention and is read by a handheld detector, it can be globally deployed to combat COVID-19.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • COVID-19 / blood
  • COVID-19 / diagnosis*
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • COVID-19 Serological Testing / instrumentation
  • COVID-19 Serological Testing / methods*
  • Humans
  • Point-of-Care Testing*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • SARS-CoV-2 / immunology*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / metabolism
  • SARS-CoV-2 / physiology
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / immunology
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus