Clinical sensitivity and specificity of a high-throughput microfluidic nano-immunoassay combined with capillary blood microsampling for the identification of anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG serostatus
Authors: Michielin Grégoire , Arefi Fatemeh , Puhach Olha , Bellon Mathilde , Sattonnet-Roche Pascale , L’Huillier Arnaud G. , Eckerle Isabella , Meyer Benjamin , Maerkl Sebastian J. 
Published: June 2022

Background

We evaluate the diagnostic performance of dried blood microsampling combined with a high-throughput microfluidic nano-immunoassay (NIA) for the identification of anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG seropositivity.

Methods

We conducted a serological study among 192 individuals with documented prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and 44 SARS-CoV-2 negative individuals. Participants with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection had a long interval of 11 months since their qRT-PCR positive test. Serum was obtained after venipuncture and tested with an automated electrochemiluminescence anti-SARS-CoV-2 S total Ig reference assay, a commercial ELISA anti-S1 IgG assay, and the index test NIA. 109 participants from the positive cohort and 44 participants from the negative cohort also participated in capillary blood collection using three microsampling devices: Mitra, repurposed glucose test strips, and HemaXis. Samples were dried, shipped by regular mail, extracted, and measured with NIA.

Findings

Using serum samples, we achieve a clinical sensitivity of 98·33% and specificity of 97·62% on NIA, affirming the high performance of NIA in participants 11 months post infection. Combining microsampling with NIA, we obtain a clinical sensitivity of 95·05% using Mitra, 61·11% using glucose test strips, 83·16% using HemaXis, and 91·49% for HemaXis after automated extraction, without any drop in specificity.

Interpretation

High sensitivity and specificity was demonstrated when testing micro-volume capillary dried blood samples using NIA, which is expected to facilitate its use in large-scale studies using home-based sampling or samples collected in the field.

Funding

Swiss National Science Foundation NRP 78 Covid-19 grant 198412 and Private Foundation of the Geneva University Hospital.

Research in context

Evidence before this study

Serological surveillance is of importance to better understand the evolution and spread of SARS-CoV-2 and adapt public health measures. We identified multiple studies conducting such serological surveys using decentralized collection of capillary blood, facilitating the logistics and reducing burden on participants and healthcare facilities. To perform the detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with a high-throughput and at low-cost, a microfluidic nano-immunoassay (NIA) was developed which requires ultra-low sample volumes and minimizes reagent consumption.

Added value of this study

In this study we showed the possibility of combining capillary microsampling with NIA. We validated the use of NIA in serum samples obtained 11 months after infection and show the good clinical performance of the assay in samples with waning antibody titers. Using three different microsampling device, namely Mitra, repurposed glucose test strips, and HemaXis, we implemented a protocol using dried blood sample collection, shipping, extraction, and testing on the microfluidic assay. The sensitivity and specificity were measured and are presented when using the different microsampling devices.

Implications of all the available evidence

We show that the performance of NIA is good when using serum samples, but also in combination with microsampling. Facilitated logistics and increased convenience of microsampling, together with high-throughput and low-cost testing on a microfluidic assay should facilitate the conduction of serological surveys.