Assessment of commercial SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays, Jamaica. (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Butterfield, Tiffany R.; Bruce-Mowatt, Alrica; Phillips, Yakima Z.R.; Brown, Nicole; Francis, Keisha; Brown, Jabari; Walker, Jerome P.; McKnight, Niel A.L.; Ehikhametalor, Kelvin; Taylor, Devon K.; Bruce, Carl A.; McGrowder, Donovan; Wharfe, Gilian; Sandiford, Simone L.; Thompson, Tamara K.; Anzinger, Joshua J.
• Is Part Of: International journal of infectious diseases. Volume 105(2021)
• Page Start: 333
• Page End: 336
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- SARS-CoV-2 -- Antibody -- Serology -- Caribbean -- Jamaica; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.02.059
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1201-9712

Abstract

Highlights: SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays have low sensitivity for asymptomatic and mild disease Moderate to critical COVID-19 is associated with a positive antibody result High SARS-CoV-2 Ct value at diagnosis is associated with a negative antibody result Abstract: Background: The performance of the Roche Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2, Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgM, Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG, Euroimmun SARS-CoV-2 IgA, Euroimmun SARS-CoV-2 IgG ELISA, and Trillium IgG/IgM rapid assays was evaluated in Jamaica. Methods: Diagnostic sensitivities of the assays were assessed by testing serum samples from SARS-CoV-2 PCR-confirmed persons and diagnostic specificity was assessed by testing serum samples collected during 2018–2019 from healthy persons and from persons with antibodies to a wide range of viral infections. Results: Serum samples collected ≥14 days after onset of symptoms, or an initial SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positive test for asymptomatics, showed diagnostic sensitivities ranging from 67.9 to 75.0% when including all possible disease severities and increased to 90.0–95.0% when examining those with moderate to critical disease. Grouping moderate to critical disease showed a significant association with a SARS-CoV-2 antibody positive result for all assays. Diagnostic specificity ranged from 96.7 to 100.0%. For all assays examined, SARS-CoV-2 real-time PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values of the initial nasopharyngeal swab sample testing positive were significantly different for samples testing antibody positive versus negative. Conclusions: These data from a predominantly African descent Caribbean population show comparable diagnostic sensitivities and specificities for all testing platforms assessed and limited utility of these tests for persons with asymptomatic and mild infections.