Back to normal; serological testing for COVID‐19 diagnosis unveils missed infections

Abstract

spinout. Quantum Molecular Diagnostics targets infectious diseases to develop and provide innovative diagnostics and is engaged in the codevelopment of the serological assay along with Mokobio Biotechnology R&D, USA. The other authors declare that there are no conflict of interests.

Serological testing reveals the hidden COVID-19 burden among healthcare workers experiencing a SARS-CoV-2 nosocomial outbreak

“…Since the host immune response lags behind viral invasion, the ability of antibody tests to detect an acute infection in its early phase is usually limited and considered inferior to NAT. However, in the case of COVID-19, NAT performance itself remains suboptimal and thus serological testing may well aid in early-phase case detection (11,12). While the present study targeted pre-exposed HCWs and was designed so as to establish delayed COVID-19 diagnoses, accumulating evidence further supports the clinical usefulness of serological testing in acute care and diagnosis.…”

“…While the present study targeted pre-exposed HCWs and was designed so as to establish delayed COVID-19 diagnoses, accumulating evidence further supports the clinical usefulness of serological testing in acute care and diagnosis. COVID-19 pneumonia with repeatedly false-negative NAT results, is not an uncommon clinical scenario, where serological testing, having an extended detectable window, may work complementarily and establish the diagnosis in the early phase of illness (11). Used in combination with NAT, serological testing has proven to enhance case detection and help control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 when applied to carefully targeted, high-risk populations, such as in-hospital outbreaks resembling the HCW cohort of the present study (12).…”

Serological Testing Reveals the Hidden COVID-19 Burden among Health Care Workers Experiencing a SARS-CoV-2 Nosocomial Outbreak

“…Since the host immune response lags behind viral invasion, the ability of antibody tests to detect an acute infection in its early phase is usually limited and is considered inferior to NAAT. In the case of COVID-19, however, NAAT performance itself remains suboptimal, and thus serological testing may aid in COVID-19 case detection by later identifying the infection during its subacute or chronic phase ( 9 , 10 ). Serological tests show increasing diagnostic sensitivity with increasing time after the onset of symptoms.…”

“…COVID-19 pneumonia with repeated false-negative NAAT results has been recurrently noted. In such clinical scenarios, serological testing with an extended detectable window has the potential to work complementarily with NAAT and to establish the diagnosis during the subacute phase of illness ( 9 ). Used in combination with NAAT, serological testing may enhance case detection and facilitate understanding of the actual spread of SARS-CoV-2 when applied to carefully targeted, high-risk populations, such as in-hospital outbreaks resembling the HCW cohort in the present study ( 10 ).…”

Side effects and antibody titer transition of the BNT162b2 messenger ribonucleic acid coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine in Japan

“…All the participants measured antibody titers at baseline and after the first and second vaccinations. An immunofluorescence analyzer (Mokosensor-Q100, Mokobio Biotechnology R&D) was used to measure the antibody titer [ 8 ]. The following is a summary of the measurement methods used in this kit: Immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG targeting the spike protein of the virus were detected using a lateral flow immunofluorescence assay kit (SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG Quantum Dot Immunoassay, Mokobio Biotechnology R&D, USA), with 20 μL of undiluted sera applied to the assay cassette, followed by 100 μL of the running buffer provided in the kit.…”