tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
PLoS One
. 2021 Mar 4;16(3):e0247797.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247797. eCollection 2021.
Longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 antibody study using the Easy Check COVID-19 IgM/IgG™ lateral flow assay
Renee L Higgins[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Stephen A Rawlings[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Jamie Case[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Florence Y Lee[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Clarence W Chan[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Bethany Barrick[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Zoe C Burger[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Kiang-Teck J Yeo[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Dena Marrinucci[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Since the initial identification of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in December of 2019, researchers have raced to understand its pathogenesis and begun devising vaccine and treatment strategies. An accurate understanding of the body's temporal immune response against SARS-CoV-2 is paramount to successful vaccine development and disease progression monitoring. To provide insight into the antibody response against SARS-CoV-2, plasma samples from 181 PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients collected at various timepoints post-symptom onset (PSO) were tested for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies via lateral flow. Additionally, 21 donors were tracked over time to elucidate patient-specific immune responses. We found sustained levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies past 130 days PSO, with 99% positivity observed at 31-60 days PSO. By 61-90 days PSO, the percentage of IgM-/IgG+ results were nearly equal to that of IgM+/IgG+ results, demonstrating a shift in the immune response with a decrease in IgM antibody levels. Results from this study not only provide evidence that the antibody response to COVID-19 can persist for over 4 months, but also demonstrates the ability of Easy Check™ to monitor seroconversion and antibody response of patients. Easy Check was sufficiently sensitive to detect antibodies in patient samples as early as 1-4 days PSO with 86% positivity observed at 5-7 days PSO. Further studies are required to determine the longevity and efficacy of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, and whether they are protective against re-infection.
. 2021 Mar 4;16(3):e0247797.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247797. eCollection 2021.
Longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 antibody study using the Easy Check COVID-19 IgM/IgG™ lateral flow assay
Renee L Higgins[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Stephen A Rawlings[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Jamie Case[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Florence Y Lee[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Clarence W Chan[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Bethany Barrick[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Zoe C Burger[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Kiang-Teck J Yeo[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Dena Marrinucci[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33661960
- DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247797
Abstract
Since the initial identification of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in December of 2019, researchers have raced to understand its pathogenesis and begun devising vaccine and treatment strategies. An accurate understanding of the body's temporal immune response against SARS-CoV-2 is paramount to successful vaccine development and disease progression monitoring. To provide insight into the antibody response against SARS-CoV-2, plasma samples from 181 PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients collected at various timepoints post-symptom onset (PSO) were tested for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies via lateral flow. Additionally, 21 donors were tracked over time to elucidate patient-specific immune responses. We found sustained levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies past 130 days PSO, with 99% positivity observed at 31-60 days PSO. By 61-90 days PSO, the percentage of IgM-/IgG+ results were nearly equal to that of IgM+/IgG+ results, demonstrating a shift in the immune response with a decrease in IgM antibody levels. Results from this study not only provide evidence that the antibody response to COVID-19 can persist for over 4 months, but also demonstrates the ability of Easy Check™ to monitor seroconversion and antibody response of patients. Easy Check was sufficiently sensitive to detect antibodies in patient samples as early as 1-4 days PSO with 86% positivity observed at 5-7 days PSO. Further studies are required to determine the longevity and efficacy of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, and whether they are protective against re-infection.