SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses do not predict COVID-19 disease severity
WS Phipps, JA SoRelle, QZ Li… - American journal of …, 2020 - academic.oup.com
WS Phipps, JA SoRelle, QZ Li, L Mahimainathan, E Araj, J Markantonis, C Lacelle, J Balani…
American journal of clinical pathology, 2020•academic.oup.comObjectives Initial reports indicate adequate performance of some serology-based severe
acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) assays. However, additional
studies are required to facilitate interpretation of results, including how antibody levels
impact immunity and disease course. Methods A total of 967 subjects were tested for IgG
antibodies reactive to SARS-CoV-2, including 172 suspected cases of SARS-CoV-2, 656
plasma samples from healthy donors, 49 sera from patients with rheumatic disease, and 90 …
acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) assays. However, additional
studies are required to facilitate interpretation of results, including how antibody levels
impact immunity and disease course. Methods A total of 967 subjects were tested for IgG
antibodies reactive to SARS-CoV-2, including 172 suspected cases of SARS-CoV-2, 656
plasma samples from healthy donors, 49 sera from patients with rheumatic disease, and 90 …
Objectives
Initial reports indicate adequate performance of some serology-based severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) assays. However, additional studies are required to facilitate interpretation of results, including how antibody levels impact immunity and disease course.
Methods
A total of 967 subjects were tested for IgG antibodies reactive to SARS-CoV-2, including 172 suspected cases of SARS-CoV-2, 656 plasma samples from healthy donors, 49 sera from patients with rheumatic disease, and 90 specimens from individuals positive for polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–based respiratory viral panel. A subgroup of SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive cases was tested for IgM antibodies by proteome array method.
Results
All specificity and cross-reactivity specimens were negative for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies (0/795, 0%). Positive agreement of IgG with PCR was 83% of samples confirmed to be more than 14 days from symptom onset, with less than 100% sensitivity attributable to a case with severe immunosuppression. Virus-specific IgM was positive in a higher proportion of cases less than 3 days from symptom onset. No association was observed between mild and severe disease course with respect to IgG and IgM levels.
Conclusions
The studied SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay had 100% specificity and no adverse cross-reactivity. Measures of IgG and IgM antibodies did not predict disease severity in our patient population.
Oxford University Press