We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App





New Rapid Test Determines Amount of Neutralizing Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2 Within Short Period of Time

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 03 Aug 2020
Print article
Image: New Rapid Test Determines Amount of Neutralizing Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2 Within Short Period of Time (Photo courtesy of FSVO/Renate Boss)
Image: New Rapid Test Determines Amount of Neutralizing Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2 Within Short Period of Time (Photo courtesy of FSVO/Renate Boss)
A Swiss-German team of researchers have developed a test that determines the amount of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 within a short period of time.

The test was developed at the Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) of the University of Bern (Bern, Switzerland) and the Swiss Federal Office for Food Safety and Animal Health (Köniz, Switzerland), and evaluated by the Ruhr-University Bochum (RUB Bochum, Germany) using serum samples from COVID-19 patients.

To determine immunity to SARS-CoV-2 and the effectiveness of potential vaccines, the amount of neutralizing antibodies in the blood of recovered or vaccinated individuals must be determined. A traditional neutralization test usually takes two to three days and must be carried out with infectious coronaviruses in a laboratory complying with biosafety level 3. The new test launched by the team of Swiss-German researchers takes only 18 hours and does not have high biosafety requirements.

In order to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the researchers used another virus that does not propagate and exchanged the envelope protein of this virus for the spike protein of the novel coronavirus, which mediates virus entry and infection. As a result, the viruses can be identified by antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 that bind to the viruses which have been altered in this way and neutralize them so that they can no longer penetrate the host cells. Since the virus pseudotyped in this way cannot propagate in host cells, no elaborate biosafety precautions are necessary for the test.

In order to determine the amount of antibodies, the researchers genetically modified the virus so that green fluorescent protein and luciferase, an enzyme from fireflies, will be produced by the infected cells. The green fluorescence is an indicator of infection with the pseudotyped virus. The less green cells found, the more neutralizing antibodies are present which block the virus. In addition, a luminometer can be used to read the luminescence signal produced by the luciferase enzyme – another way of evaluating the test.

In order to check the reliability and comparability with the conventional neutralization test, the researchers applied it to blood samples from COVID-19 patients. The direct comparison showed a good correlation between the two test systems. As compared to 56 hours for the conventional test, the new test is much faster, with only 18 hours to test results.

Related Links:
University of Bern
Swiss Federal Office for Food Safety and Animal Health
Ruhr-University Bochum


Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
Specimen Collection & Transport
Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Test
GPP-100 Anti-CCP Kit
Gold Member
SARS-CoV-2 Test
One Step SARS-CoV-2 Nucleic Acid Detection Kit (P761H)

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection

Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The QIAstat-Dx Analyzer 2.0 with remote test results access enhances collaboration across the healthcare system (Photo courtesy of QIAGEN)

Upgraded Syndromic Testing Analyzer Enables Remote Test Results Access

QIAGEN (Venlo, the Netherlands) has released the QIAstat-Dx Analyzer 2.0, including the Software 1.6 upgrade. This represents a significant advancement from the initial QIAstat-Dx Analyzer 1.... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The low-cost portable device rapidly identifies chemotherapy patients at risk of sepsis (Photo courtesy of 52North Health)

POC Finger-Prick Blood Test Determines Risk of Neutropenic Sepsis in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Neutropenia, a decrease in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting infections), is a frequent side effect of certain cancer treatments. This condition elevates the risk of infections,... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: The RedDrop One blood collection device has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. FDA for prescription use (Photo courtesy of RedDrop Dx)

Innovative Blood Collection Device Overcomes Common Obstacles Related to Phlebotomy

The discomfort associated with traditional blood draws leads to a significant issue: approximately 30% of diagnostic tests prescribed by physicians are never completed by patients. This avoidance is often... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.