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COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Antibody testing

Antibody testing can detect whether a person has been infected previously or has a vaccine-induced immune response.

TDL offers 4 assays for the detection of antibodies targeted against SARS-CoV-2:

  • Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S (Spike) IgG/IgM Total Antibody
  • Roche Elecys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM Total Antibody

  • Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG

  • Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgM

 

Testing should be undertaken 14 days or more following exposure,  onset of symptoms or post-vaccination.  The incubation period of COVID-19 ranges from between 1 to 14 days, with the majority of cases manifesting with symptoms at 3–5 days. 

If an individual has been infected with SARS-CoV-2, they may have detectable antibodies to both the nucleocapsid (N) and the spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD). Baseline antibody tests for both nucleocapsid and RBD antigens are therefore helpful to identify patients who have been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. It is not yet known if an individual with a positive result showing presence of IgG levels following being infected with SARS-CoV-2 will be protected, either fully or partially from future infection, or for how long protective immunity may last.

If an individual has been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, with no history of natural infection, the antibodies they develop are to the spike protein receptor binding domain. Determining the levels of these antibodies could play a role in establishing vaccine efficacy and vaccine-induced immune response.

 

Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2-S (Spike) IgG/IgM total antibody test

This blood test enables the determination of both the presence and level of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is the target of many COVID-19 vaccines,.  It can can signal whether a person has already been infected and has potentially developed immunity to the virus., and plays an important part in characterising a vaccine-induced immune response.

 

Roche Elecys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM total antibody test

This blood test enables the determination of the presence  of IgG and IgM antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein.

 

Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG test 

This blood test enables the determination of the presence  of IgG antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein.

 

Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgM test

This blood test enables the determination of the presence  of IgM antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

 

Structure of SARS-CoV-2 © Roche

Structure of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Source: Roche 

 

 

Roche Elecsys
Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S
(Spike) Total antibody

Roche Elecsys
Anti-SARS-CoV-2
Total Antibody

Abbott
Architect SARS-CoV-2
IgG

Abbott
Architect SARS-CoV-2
IgM

Platform

Roche e801

Roche e801

Abbott Architect

Abbott Architect

Assay type

Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA)

Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA)

Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA)

Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA)

Reporting format

QUANTITATIVE

Qualitative

Qualitative

Qualitative

Reporting ranges

Positive with value reported in U/ml / Negative

Positive / Negative

Positive / Negative

Positive/Negative

Antigen used

Spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD)

Nucleocapsid

Nucleocapsid

Spike protein

Analyte target

SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies (IgG/IgM) Total antibodies

SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies (IgG/IgM) Total antibodies

SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies (IgG)

SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies (IgM)

Sample type verified

Serum – venous or capillary self-collection

Serum – venous or capillary self-collection

Serum – venous

Serum – venous

Sensitivity

98.8%

97.4%

97.5%

96.67% in samples taken more than 14 days post symptoms onset

Specificity

99.98% in samples taken 14 days or later after positive PCR

100%

99.1%

99.0%

Seasonal Corona
Virus panel

24/24 Negative

26/26 Negative

26/26 Negative

N/A

 

 

 

Estimated course of Markers in SARS-CoV-2 Infection diagram

Structure of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Source: Roche 

 

 

Sample type

Roche Elecys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S

Serum: Venous/Capillary self-collection

Roche Elecys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM Total Antibody

Serum: Venous/Capillary self-collection

Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG

Serum: Venous

Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgM

Serum: Venous

 

Reporting format

Roche Elecys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S

QUANTITATIVE

Roche Elecys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM Total Antibody

Qualitative

Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG

Qualitative

Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgM

Qualitative

 

Antigen used

Roche Elecys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S

Spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD)

Roche Elecys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM Total Antibody

Nucleocapsid

Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG

Nucleocapsid

Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgM

Spike protein

 

Sample stability

Roche Elecys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S

7 days

Roche Elecys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM Total Antibody

7 days

Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG

7 days

Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgM

7 days

 

Please note:

  • Antibody tests cannot diagnose acute infection.
  • Not everyone will develop an antibody response to COVID infection or vaccine.
  • Timing of seroconversion following vaccine ≥ 14 days.
  • Results from different manufacturers of commercial assays should not be compared
     

See also:

 

Test name
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2-S (Spike)
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Total Antibody
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Abbott IgG Antibody
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Abbott IgM Antibody