Comparison of Dried Blood Spots and Venous Blood for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in a Population of Nursing Home Residents

In the current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, testing for SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies is paramount for monitoring immune responses in postauthorization vaccination and seroepidemiological studies. However, large-scale and iterative serological testing by venipuncture in older persons can be challenging. Capillary blood sampling using a finger prick and collection on protein saver cards, i.e., dried blood spots (DBSs), has already proven to be a promising alternative. However, elderly persons have reduced cutaneous microvasculature, which may affect DBS-based antibody testing. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the performance of DBS tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among nursing homes residents. We collected paired venous blood and DBS samples on two types of protein saver cards (Whatman and EUROIMMUN) from nursing home residents, as well as from staff members as a reference population. Venous blood samples were analyzed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies using the Abbott chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). DBS samples were analyzed by the EUROIMMUN enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. We performed a statistical assessment to optimize the ELISA cutoff value for the DBS testing using Youden's J index. A total of 273 paired DBS-serum samples were analyzed, of which 129 were positive, as assessed by the reference test. The sensitivities and specificities of DBS testing ranged from 95.0% to 97.1% and from 97.1% to 98.8%, respectively, depending on the population (residents or staff members) and the DBS card type. Therefore, we found that DBS sampling is a valid alternative to venipuncture for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among elderly subjects. IMPORTANCE Since the implementation of newly developed SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in the general population, serological tests are of increasing importance. Because DBS samples can be obtained with a finger prick and can be shipped and stored at room temperature, they are optimal for use in large-scale SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance or postauthorization vaccination studies, even in an elderly study population.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2021

Erschienen:

2021

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:9

Enthalten in:

Microbiology spectrum - 9(2021), 2 vom: 31. Okt., Seite e0017821

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Meyers, Eline [VerfasserIn]
Heytens, Stefan [VerfasserIn]
Formukong, Asangwing [VerfasserIn]
Vercruysse, Hanne [VerfasserIn]
De Sutter, An [VerfasserIn]
Geens, Tom [VerfasserIn]
Hofkens, Kenneth [VerfasserIn]
Janssens, Heidi [VerfasserIn]
Nys, Eveline [VerfasserIn]
Padalko, Elizaveta [VerfasserIn]
Deschepper, Ellen [VerfasserIn]
Cools, Piet [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Antibodies
Antibodies, Viral
COVID-19
COVID-19 Vaccines
Comparative Study
Dried blood spots
ELISA
Elderly
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
IgG
Immunoglobins
Immunoglobulin G
Journal Article
Nursing homes
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
SARS-CoV-2
Serology
Serosurveillance

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 16.11.2021

Date Revised 20.10.2023

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1128/Spectrum.00178-21

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM330917889