Detecting anti–SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in urine samples: A noninvasive and sensitive way to assay COVID-19 immune conversion

Abstract

Serum-based ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) has been widely used to detect anti–severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies. However, to date, no study has investigated patient urine as a biological sample to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus-specific antibodies. An in-house urine-based ELISA was developed using recombinant SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in urine was established, with 94% sensitivity and 100% specificity for the detection of anti–SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with the urine-based ELISA and 88% sensitivity and 100% specificity with a paired serum-based ELISA. The urine-based ELISA that detects anti–SARS-CoV-2 antibodies is a noninvasive method with potential application as a facile COVID-19 immunodiagnostic platform, which can be used to report the extent of exposure at the population level and/or to assess the risk of infection at the individual level.

Peptide microarray analysis of in-silico predicted B-cell epitopes in SARS-CoV-2 sero-positive healthcare workers in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

“…The study population consisted of forty-nine health care workers [14.3% ( Ludolf et al, 2022 May 1 ) males and 85.7% ( Ceraolo and Giorgi, 2020 May 1 ) females] within the age range of 20-64 years (median age: 38.9; IQR: 29-23) from Bulawayo. The cohort of health workers were of two different health settings [87.8% ( Carmona et al, 2012 Dec 14 ) hospital and 12.2% ( West and Kobokovich, 2020 ) clinic] and comprised of 53.1% ( Jena et al, 2021 Jan 23 ) nurses, 2% ( Ferreira et al, 2021 Nov 30 ) doctor, 16.3% ( Javadi Mamaghani et al, 2021 Dec 1 ) nurse aides, 16.3% ( Javadi Mamaghani et al, 2021 Dec 1 ) student nurses, 8.2% ( Ong et al, 2021 Jul 1 ) general and 4.1% ( Musicò et al, 2021 Jan 11 ) clerks.…”

“…Serological tests are primarily useful to determine whether people were previously infected by SARS-CoV-2 ( West and Kobokovich, 2020 ). This is important at the population level to support surveillance studies, to determine the extent of exposure, case fatality rate, and to track changes in incidence and prevalence ( Rai et al, 2021 Jan 1 , West and Kobokovich, 2020 , Ludolf et al, 2022 May 1 ).…”

Development and validation of an enzyme-linked immunoassay kit for diagnosis and surveillance of COVID-19

“…The rN-ELISA was adapted to evaluate the presence of antibodies in the urine of patients post COVID-19 infection. Some adjustments have been done, such as incubation time and conjugated dilution and the results were published [30] .…”

Universal and High-Speed Zeptomolar Protein Serum Assay with Unprecedented Sensitivity

“…Protein biomarkers associated with the disease are often present in the serum at extremely trace levels that are difficult to monitor accurately. − Ultrasensitive and rapid clinical tests are crucial for early serum diagnosis and pathological studies. − The most commonly utilized approaches for protein analysis include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), , fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), , surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), , radioimmunoassay (RIA), , and electrochemistry (EC). , Notably, Walt et al pushed protein detection into the low attomolar range by individual counting with signal amplification on molecular beads using automatic flow cytometry . A major limitation of this approach is the need for sophisticated equipment and specialized operation during detection.…”

“…1−3 Ultrasensitive and rapid clinical tests are crucial for early serum diagnosis and pathological studies. 4−6 The most commonly utilized approaches for protein analysis include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), 7,8 fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), 9,10 surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), 11,12 radioimmunoassay (RIA), 13,14 and electrochemistry (EC). 15,16 Notably, Walt et al pushed protein detection into the low attomolar range by individual counting with signal amplification on molecular beads using automatic flow cytometry.…”