A serological assay to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in at-home collected finger-prick dried blood spots

Abstract

Accurate surveillance of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incidence requires large-scale testing of the population. Current testing methods require in-person collection of biospecimens by a healthcare worker, limiting access of individuals who do not have access to testing facilities while placing both the patient and healthcare worker at risk of exposure to infection. We report the development and validation of a at-home finger-prick dried blood spot collection kit and an analysis method. We demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity using at-home collected specimens across the US. Such methods may facilitate the conduct of unbiased serosurveys within hard to reach populations and help reduce the sample collection burden of serological testing on both health care systems and individuals alike.

Multiplexed detection and quantification of human antibody response to COVID-19 infection using a plasmon enhanced biosensor platform

“…These tests are typically performed using whole blood, blood serum, or blood plasma. The most widely used approach is the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) ( Amanat et al, 2020 ; Karp et al, 2020 ; Randad et al, 2020 ). ELISA-based testing enables high throughput (processing many samples in parallel), but is typically limited to a single antigen per well ( Infantino et al, 2020 ; Younes et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Samples collected in this manner may be maintained at ambient temperature and can be shipped using mail or courier service without the need for refrigeration. Dried blood spots (DBS) have been successfully utilized for immunological/serological testing for multiple viral diseases, including hepatitis C, HIV, and COVID-19 ( Karp et al, 2020 ; Malsagova et al, 2020 ; Vázquez-Morón et al, 2019 ).…”

Multiplexed Detection and Quantification of Human Antibody Response to COVID-19 Infection Using a Plasmon Enhanced Biosensor Platform

“…Most testing methods utilize recombinant viral antigens as the target, and assess immunoglobulin binding to these antigens using a variety of direct and indirect detection methods. The most widely used approach is the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Amanat et al 2020;Karp et al 2020; Randad et al 2020). ELISA-based testing enables high throughput (processing many samples in parallel), but is typically limited to a single antigen per well (Infantino et al 2020;Younes et al 2020).…”

“…Samples collected in this manner may be maintained at ambient temperature and can be shipped using mail or courier service without the need for refrigeration or post-collection processing. Dried blood spots (DBS) have been successfully utilized for immunological/serological testing for multiple viral diseases, including hepatitis C, HIV, and COVID-19 (Karp et al 2020;Malsagova et al 2020;Vázquez-Morón et al 2019).…”

Serosurveys for SARS-CoV-2: need of the hour

“…Serosurveys that detect these antibodies using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) help in the assessment of asymptomatic infection in close contacts, enhance the current understanding of the spread of disease, individual's immune status and in identifying potential plasma donors. 4,5,6 Case fatality rate is positively associated with SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence as was demonstrated in the survey conducted in the Spanish population. 7,8 Immuno-compromised patients, healthcare workers, relatively young working population comprising of bankers, media persons, individuals working at airports, overseas operations and industries, staff in municipal bodies, shopkeepers, vendors, courier services, telecommunication offices, drivers of hospital ambulances, hearse vans, buses, auto-rickshaw, taxies; bus conductors, farmers, electricity workers, migrant labourers who have travelled back from urban and peri-urban areas to rural/tribal; inhabitants of hard to reach areas, prisoners, densely populated regions of the country as well as natives after coming in contact with returned migrant; police and security personnel, those staying in institutional settings and hostels and inhabitants of containment zones should all be tested for the presence of antibodies against the virus.…”