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Ho AD, Verkerke H, Allen JW, Saeedi BJ, Boyer D, Owens J, Shin S, Horwath M, Patel K, Paul A, Wu SC, Chonat S, Zerra P, Lough C, Roback JD, Neish A, Josephson CD, Arthur CM, Stowell SR. An automated approach to determine antibody endpoint titers for COVID-19 by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunohematology 2021; 37:33-43. [PMID: 33962490 DOI: 10.21307/immunohematology-2021-007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
While a variety of therapeutic options continue to emerge for COVID-19 treatment, convalescent plasma (CP) has been used as a possible treatment option early in the pandemic. One of the most significant challenges with CP therapy, however, both when defining its efficacy and implementing its approach clinically, is accurately and efficiently characterizing an otherwise heterogenous therapeutic treatment. Given current limitations, our goal is to leverage a SARS antibody testing platform with a newly developed automated endpoint titer analysis program to rapidly define SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in CP donors and hospitalized patients. A newly developed antibody detection platform was used to perform a serial dilution enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgM, and IgA SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Data were then analyzed using commercially available software, GraphPad Prism, or a newly developed program developed in Python called TiterScape, to analyze endpoint titers. Endpoint titer calculations and analysis times were then compared between the two analysis approaches. Serial dilution analysis of SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels revealed a high level of heterogeneity between individuals. Commercial platform analysis required significant time for manual data input and extrapolated endpoint titer values when the last serial dilution was above the endpoint cutoff, occasionally producing erroneously high results. By contrast, TiterScape processed 1008 samples for endpoint titer results in roughly 14 minutes compared with the 8 hours required for the commercial software program analysis. Equally important, results generated by TiterScape and Prism were highly similar, with differences averaging 1.26 ± 0.2 percent (mean ± SD). The pandemic has created unprecedented challenges when seeking to accurately test large numbers of individuals for SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels with a rapid turnaround time. ELISA platforms capable of serial dilution analysis coupled with a highly flexible software interface may provide a useful tool when seeking to define endpoint titers in a high-throughput manner. Immunohematology 2021;37:33-43. While a variety of therapeutic options continue to emerge for COVID-19 treatment, convalescent plasma (CP) has been used as a possible treatment option early in the pandemic. One of the most significant challenges with CP therapy, however, both when defining its efficacy and implementing its approach clinically, is accurately and efficiently characterizing an otherwise heterogenous therapeutic treatment. Given current limitations, our goal is to leverage a SARS antibody testing platform with a newly developed automated endpoint titer analysis program to rapidly define SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in CP donors and hospitalized patients. A newly developed antibody detection platform was used to perform a serial dilution enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgM, and IgA SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Data were then analyzed using commercially available software, GraphPad Prism, or a newly developed program developed in Python called TiterScape, to analyze endpoint titers. Endpoint titer calculations and analysis times were then compared between the two analysis approaches. Serial dilution analysis of SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels revealed a high level of heterogeneity between individuals. Commercial platform analysis required significant time for manual data input and extrapolated endpoint titer values when the last serial dilution was above the endpoint cutoff, occasionally producing erroneously high results. By contrast, TiterScape processed 1008 samples for endpoint titer results in roughly 14 minutes compared with the 8 hours required for the commercial software program analysis. Equally important, results generated by TiterScape and Prism were highly similar, with differences averaging 1.26 ± 0.2 percent (mean ± SD). The pandemic has created unprecedented challenges when seeking to accurately test large numbers of individuals for SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels with a rapid turnaround time. ELISA platforms capable of serial dilution analysis coupled with a highly flexible software interface may provide a useful tool when seeking to define endpoint titers in a high-throughput manner. Immunohematology 2021;37:33–43.
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Affiliation(s)
- A D Ho
- Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA , and Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA
| | - H Verkerke
- Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA , and Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA
| | - J W Allen
- Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA , and Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA
| | - B J Saeedi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA
| | - D Boyer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA
| | - J Owens
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA
| | - S Shin
- Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA
| | - M Horwath
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA
| | - K Patel
- Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA
| | - A Paul
- Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA
| | - S-C Wu
- Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA
| | - S Chonat
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA
| | - P Zerra
- Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA
| | - C Lough
- Lifesouth Blood Donation Services , Gainesville, FL
| | - J D Roback
- Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA
| | - A Neish
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA
| | - C D Josephson
- Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA
| | - C M Arthur
- Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA
| | - S R Stowell
- Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine , 201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322 , and Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , 630E New Research Building, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115
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Allen JWL, Verkerke H, Owens J, Saeedi B, Boyer D, Shin S, Roback JD, Neish AS, Stowell SR. Serum pooling for rapid expansion of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing capacity. Transfus Clin Biol 2020; 28:51-54. [PMID: 33096207 PMCID: PMC7575425 DOI: 10.1016/j.tracli.2020.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Objectives Examine possible pooling strategies designed to expand SARS-CoV-2 serological testing capacity. Methods Negative pools were assessed to determine optimal optical density (OD) cutoffs, followed by spiking weak or strong positive samples to assess initial assay performance. Samples were then randomly subjected to pool and individual testing approaches. Results Single positive specimens consistently converted pools of 5, 10, or 20 into positive outcomes. However, weaker IgG-positive samples failed to similarly convert pools of 50 to a positive result. In contrast, a stronger individual positive sample converted all pools tested into positive outcomes. Finally, examination of 150 samples configured into pools of 5, 10, 20 or 50 accurately predicted the presence of positive or negative specimens within each pool. Conclusions These results suggest that pooling strategies may allow expansion of serological testing capacity. While limitations exist, such strategies may aid in large-scale epidemiological screening or identification of optimal convalescent plasma donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- J W L Allen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies, Emory University School of Medicine, 201, Dowman Dr, 30322 Atlanta, GA, United States; Department of Pathology, Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 630D New Research Building, 02115 Boston, MA, United States
| | - H Verkerke
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies, Emory University School of Medicine, 201, Dowman Dr, 30322 Atlanta, GA, United States; Department of Pathology, Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 630D New Research Building, 02115 Boston, MA, United States
| | - J Owens
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies, Emory University School of Medicine, 201, Dowman Dr, 30322 Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - B Saeedi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies, Emory University School of Medicine, 201, Dowman Dr, 30322 Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - D Boyer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies, Emory University School of Medicine, 201, Dowman Dr, 30322 Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - S Shin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies, Emory University School of Medicine, 201, Dowman Dr, 30322 Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - J D Roback
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies, Emory University School of Medicine, 201, Dowman Dr, 30322 Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - A S Neish
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies, Emory University School of Medicine, 201, Dowman Dr, 30322 Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - S R Stowell
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies, Emory University School of Medicine, 201, Dowman Dr, 30322 Atlanta, GA, United States; Department of Pathology, Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 630D New Research Building, 02115 Boston, MA, United States.
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