Comparison of automated SARS-CoV-2 serology assays in assessing virus neutralization capacity
BBMRI.at partner Biobank Graz together with researchers at Med Uni Graz have established several different COVID-19-related sample cohorts. One of these, the “COVID-19 Convalescent Cohort”, was used by researchers and biobankers in a study that compared automated SARS-CoV-2 serology assays. A scientific paper is now published in Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine.
Serological tests on automated immunology analyzers used to monitor the acquired immunity against SARS-CoV-2 often show heterogeneous results. Therefore, researchers from BBMRI.at partner Med Uni Graz with Biobank Graz involvement analysed six different SARS-CoV-2 serology assays concerning their diagnostic performance and comparability with sera from COVID-19 convalescents.
The results revealed that the different serological SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests were poorly comparable. The biggest discrepancies were observed in detecting antibody titer changes.
However, these tests are still a reliable surrogate test for SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies in patients recovered from COVID-19 with an appropriate validation.
Niedrist T, Drexler C, Torreiter PP, Matejka J, Strahlhofer-Augsten M, Kral S, Riegler S, Gülly C, Zurl C, Kriegl L, Krause R, Berghold A, Steinmetz I, Schlenke P, Herrmann M.: Longitudinal comparison of automated SARS-CoV-2 serology assays in assessing virus neutralization capacity in COVID-19 convalescent sera. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2022 Jan 27. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2021-0604-SA. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35085385.
