SARS-CoV-2 Serologic Assays in Control and Unknown Populations Demonstrate the Necessity of Virus Neutralization Testing

  • Jennifer A. Rathe
  • , Emily A. Hemann
  • , Julie Eggenberger
  • , Zhaoqi Li
  • , Megan L. Knoll
  • , Caleb Stokes
  • , Tien Ying Hsiang
  • , Jason Netland
  • , Kennidy K. Takehara
  • , Marion Pepper
  • , Michael Gale

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: To determine how serologic antibody testing outcome links with virus neutralization of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), we evaluated individuals for SARS-CoV-2 antibody level and viral neutralization. Methods: We compared serum Ig levels across platforms of viral antigens and antibodies with 15 positive and 30 negative SARS-CoV-2 controls followed by viral neutralization assessment. We then applied these platforms to a clinically relevant cohort of 114 individuals with unknown histories of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results: In controls, the best-performing virus-specific antibody detection platforms were SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG (sensitivity 87%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value [PPV] 100%, negative predictive value [NPV] 94%), spike IgG3 (sensitivity 93%, specificity 97%, PPV 93%, NPV 97%), and nucleocapsid protein (NP) IgG (sensitivity 93%, specificity 97%, PPV 93%, NPV 97%). Neutralization of positive and negative control sera showed 100% agreement. Twenty individuals with unknown history had detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with 16 demonstrating virus neutralization. Spike IgG3 provided the highest accuracy for predicting serologically positive individuals with virus neutralization activity (misidentified 1/20 unknowns compared to 2/20 for RBD and NP IgG). Conclusions: The coupling of virus neutralization analysis to a spike IgG3 antibody test is optimal to categorize patients for correlates of SARS-CoV-2 immune protection status.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1120-1131
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume223
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Apr 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • SARS-CoV-2
  • antibody
  • immunity
  • neutralization
  • serologic
  • two-tiered testing

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'SARS-CoV-2 Serologic Assays in Control and Unknown Populations Demonstrate the Necessity of Virus Neutralization Testing'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this