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Updated: Aug 9, 2025
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Receptor-Binding Domain Antibody using a HiBiT-Based Bioreporter
Published on: August 12, 2021
Development and comparative evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD and N based ELISA tests in various African endemic
Chaouki Benabdessalem1, Wafa Ben Hamouda1, Soumaya Marzouki1
1Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infection, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunisia; University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
Abstract:
Management of the COVID-19 pandemic relies on molecular diagnostic methods supported by serological tools. Herein, we developed S-RBD- and N- based ELISA assays useful for infection rate surveillance as well as the follow-up of acquired protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2. ELISA assays were optimized using COVID-19 Tunisian patients' sera and prepandemic controls. Assays were further validated in 3 African countries with variable endemic settings. The receiver operating curve was used to evaluate the assay performances. The N- and S-RBD-based ELISA assays performances, in Tunisia, were very high (AUC: 0.966 and 0.98, respectively, p < 0.0001). Cross-validation analysis showed similar performances in different settings. Cross-reactivity, with malaria infection, against viral antigens, was noticed. In head-to-head comparisons with different commercial assays, the developed assays showed high agreement. This study demonstrates, the added value of the developed serological assays in low-income countries, particularly in ethnically diverse populations with variable exposure to local endemic infectious diseases.
