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COVID-19 antibody screening with SARS-CoV-2 red cell kodecytes using routine serologic diagnostic platforms
Radhika Nagappan1, Willy A Flegel2, Kshitij Srivastava2
1Centre for Kode Technology Innovation, School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
Insights
New C19-kodecytes, modified red blood cells, show high accuracy for detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies. This assay is compatible with standard blood screening equipment, aiding in COVID-19 pandemic management.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic necessitates rapid development of diagnostic tools.
- Detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies is crucial for pandemic management.
- Existing serologic platforms require adaptable reagents for accurate SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of SARS-CoV-2 peptide Kode Technology-modified red cells (C19-kodecytes) for antibody detection.
- To develop a SARS-CoV-2 antibody assay compatible with routine serologic platforms.
- To assess the performance of C19-kodecytes on manual and automated platforms.
Main Methods:
- Developed eight unique red cells modified with SARS-CoV-2 peptides (C19-kodecytes).
- Tested C19-kodecytes against negative and positive plasma samples using manual tube and column agglutination technology (CAT) platforms.
- Performed parallel analysis using enzyme immunoassays and compared results with a commercial assay.
Main Results:
- C19-kodecytes demonstrated specificity >91% on three CAT platforms.
- Sensitivity ranged from 82% to 97%, outperforming the Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay (77%).
- Manual tube serology showed lower sensitivity than CAT; enzyme immunoassays also yielded high sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- C19-kodecytes are effective as serologic reagent red cells.
- The assay is suitable for detecting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using routine blood screening equipment.
- This technology offers a viable option for scalable COVID-19 serologic testing.
Background:
The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having a major global impact, and the resultant response in the development of new diagnostics is unprecedented. The detection of antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has a role in managing the pandemic. We evaluated the feasibility of using SARS-CoV-2 peptide Kode Technology-modified red cells (C19-kodecytes) to develop an assay compatible with existing routine serologic platforms.
Study Design And Methods:
A panel of eight unique red cells modified using Kode Technology function-spacer-lipid constructs and bearing short SARS-CoV-2 peptides was developed (C19-kodecyte assay). Kodecytes were tested against undiluted expected antibody-negative and -positive plasma samples in manual tube and three column agglutination technology (CAT) platforms. Parallel analysis with the same peptides in solid phase by enzyme immunoassays was performed. Evaluation samples included >120 expected negative blood donor samples and >140 COVID-19 convalescent plasma samples, with independent serologic analysis from two centers.
Results:
Specificity (negative reaction rate against expected negative samples) in three different CAT platforms against novel C19-kodecytes was >91%, which correlated with published literature. Sensitivity (positive reaction rate against expected positive convalescent, PCR-confirmed samples) ranged from 82% to 97% compared to 77% with the Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay. Manual tube serology was less sensitive than CAT. Enzyme immunoassay results with some Kode Technology constructs also had high sensitivity.
Conclusions:
C19-kodecytes are viable for use as serologic reagent red cells for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibody with routine blood antibody screening equipment.
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