Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2025
Dynamic Monitoring of Seroconversion using a Multianalyte Immunobead Assay for Covid-19
Published on: February 16, 2022
A multicentre study comparing post-mortem SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing in Cape Town mortuaries
Tayna Carlisle1, Yuvika Vandayar1, Laura Taylor1
1Division of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Insights
Post-mortem antibody testing for COVID-19 is challenging. Roche
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains a global health concern with unclear infection numbers.
- Limited research exists on the efficacy of post-mortem antibody testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
- Accurate antibody detection in deceased individuals is crucial for understanding infection prevalence and mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the SureScreen COVID-19 immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM Rapid Test Cassette in deceased individuals.
- To compare the SureScreen test performance against gold-standard antibody tests in South Africa.
- To identify the most appropriate antibody testing method for post-mortem serum samples.
Main Methods:
- Fifty deceased individuals with suspected lifetime COVID-19 infection were recruited from two mortuaries.
- Blood samples were collected during autopsy and tested using SureScreen, Roche Diagnostics Elecsys, and Abbott Architect assays.
- Antemortem polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results were used for confirmation in 39 participants.
Main Results:
- Among PCR-confirmed cases, Roche's Elecsys showed the highest sensitivity (97.1%), followed by SureScreen IgG (82.1%).
- The SureScreen IgG results were significantly associated with PCR confirmation (p < 0.05).
- Roche's Elecsys yielded the most positive results in post-mortem serum samples, followed by SureScreen, then Abbott Architect.
Conclusions:
- The SureScreen test shows potential as a screening tool for COVID-19 antibodies in mortuary settings.
- Roche's Elecsys assay is recommended for diagnostic confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in post-mortem samples.
- This study contributes to establishing reliable methods for post-mortem serological testing.
Background:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was recognised as a global pandemic in 2019, yet the exact number of infections is still unclear. In addition, there is limited research on post-mortem antibody testing.
Objectives:
This study sought to evaluate the use of the SureScreen COVID-19 immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM Rapid Test Cassette in deceased individuals by comparing it to the gold-standard antibody tests in South Africa, and to identify the most appropriate antibody testing method for post-mortem samples.
Method:
Between May 2021 and February 2023, fifty cases, with suspected COVID-19 infection during their lifetime, were recruited from Tygerberg Mortuary and Salt River Mortuary, after obtaining informed consent from their next-of-kin. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection was confirmed through antemortem positive COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (PCP) tests in 39 participants. Blood samples were collected during autopsies in serum separator tubes, which yielded better separation when centrifuged immediately after collection. The SureScreen test was performed alongside Roche Diagnostics Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 and Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG assays.
Results:
Among the confirmed PCP cases, Elecsys demonstrated the highest sensitivity (97.1%) followed by SureScreen IgG (82.1%). In a logistic regression analysis, PCP confirmation was significantly associated with the SureScreen IgG results (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Overall, Roche's Elecsys had the highest yield of positive results on our cohort of post-mortem serum samples, followed by SureScreen, and finally, Abbott's Architect assay.
Contribution:
These results suggest that the SureScreen test has potential as a screening tool in mortuary settings, with Roche's Elecsys assay recommended for diagnostic confirmation.
More Related Videos
05:25Author Spotlight: Expanding the Scope of Multiplex Immunoassays for Lyme Borreliosis Diagnostics and Pathogen Research
Published on: July 14, 2023
07:13Swabbing the Urban Environment - A Pipeline for Sampling and Detection of SARS-CoV-2 From Environmental Reservoirs
Published on: April 9, 2021