Serological testing is emerging as a powerful tool to progress our understanding of COVID-19 exposure, transmission and immune response. Large-scale testing is limited by the need for in-person blood collection by staff trained in venepuncture, and the limited sensitivity of lateral flow tests. Capillary blood self-sampling and postage to laboratories for analysis could provide a reliable alternative. Two-hundred and nine matched venous and capillary blood samples were obtained from thirty nine participants and analysed using a COVID-19 IgG ELISA to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Thirty eight out of thirty nine participants were able to self-collect an adequate sample of capillary blood (≥ 50 µl). Using plasma from venous blood collected in lithium heparin as the reference standard, matched capillary blood samples, collected in lithium heparin-treated tubes and on filter paper as dried blood spots, achieved a Cohen’s kappa coefficient of > 0.88 (near-perfect agreement, 95% CI 0.738–1.000). Storage of capillary blood at room temperature for up to 7 days post sampling did not affect concordance. Our results indicate that capillary blood self-sampling is a reliable and feasible alternative to venepuncture for serological assessment in COVID-19.
【저자키워드】 immunology, viral infection, Infectious diseases, Epidemiology, Diagnosis, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, immune response, antibody, Transmission, heparin, Laboratory, sensitivity, Dried blood spots, Concordance, Serological testing, plasma, temperature, lithium, capillary, IgG ELISA, reference standard, Blood, Lithium heparin, Filter Paper, Analysis, Large-scale testing, Lateral flow tests, venous blood, room temperature, 95% CI, Cohen’s kappa coefficient, venepuncture, participant, powerful tool, blood collection, storage, capillary blood, capillary blood samples, serological assessment, venous, detect, collected, nine, eight, analysed, not affect, feasible, 【제목키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, serology,