In a new study, researchers developed a simple test to determine who has developed COVID-19 antibodies.
The antibody test can be completed in five minutes.
It can use either serum or plasma samples to detect antibodies, with no false-negative results and virtually no false positives based on testing results on hundreds of samples.
The test could become a pivotal tool to help identify and determine immunity, whether from the previous infection or from vaccination.
The research was conducted by a team at the University of Western Ontario and elsewhere.
There are fewer than 20 antibody tests already approved by Health Canada and these are not ideal for community-level use because of high costs and long turn-around times.
Currently, Health Canada has an expedited review of submissions to address COVID-19.
In the study, the test answers an urgent need for a simple, accurate measure of the prevalence of disease or disease-protection—and from that, to help inform public-health decisions for individuals within communities.
The samples could be processed in a lab (in large batches or individually) or at a patient’s bedside.
The new test can’t be used to diagnose whether someone is newly infected. However, it is sensitive enough to measure antibodies days after someone has contracted the disease.
According to Health Canada, 70% of the population will need to show immunity—ideally, through vaccination—in order to safeguard against the further pandemic-level spread of the virus.
An accurate antibody test will help measure that figure.
One author of the study is Professor Shawn Li, Canada Research Chair in Proteomics and Functional Genomics.
The study is published in medRxiv.
Copyright © 2021 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
