Random SARS-CoV-2 antibody screening in Egypt during the COVID-19 third wave

Abstract

Background: Since its first hit in 2019, pandemic has caused devastating consequences all over the globe. Serological testing can assess the level of humoral immune response and can guide for appropriate health decisions. Objective: This work aimed to test performance agreement between rapid tests and ELISA in serological detection of COVID-19 antibodies among generally randomized Egyptian participants. Methodology: Total 238 randomized Egyptian participants were serologically screened for SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG using COVID-19 IgM/IgG Combo rapid test and NovaLisa SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG ELISA kit in the period from March 2021 to June 2021 (pandemic third wave). Result: COVID-19 antibodies showed seroprevalence rate of 47.47%, distributed among symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals by rates of 51% and 42.5%, respectively. IgM and IgG antibodies had rates of 8.8% and 35.6%, while rates of 10.9% and 28.2% by ELISA respectively. The agreement between ELISA and rapid test was none to slight for IgM (p = 0.35), while fair for IgG; (p < 0.001). Conclusion: COVID-19 antibodies were positive in nearly half of enrolled participants. Rapid test showed fair agreement for IgG, while none to slight agreement for IgM with ELISA, thus can not replace ELISA in serological testing.