Self-sampling of capillary blood for SARS-CoV-2 serology

Brown, Lottie, Byrne, Rachel, Fraser, Alice, Owen, Sophie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0458-2357, CubasAtienzar, Ana, Williams, Chris, Kay, Grant Alistair, Cuevas, Luis ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6581-0587, Fitchett, Joseph R. A., Fletcher, Tom, Garrod, Gala, Kontogianni, Konstantina, Krishna, Sanjeev, Menzies, Stefanie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9273-9296, Planche, Tim, Sainter, Chris, Staines, Henry M., Turtle, Lance and Adams, Emily ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0816-2835 (2021) 'Self-sampling of capillary blood for SARS-CoV-2 serology'. Scientific Reports, Vol 11, Issue 1, p. 7754.

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Abstract

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.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	QW Microbiology and Immunology > Viruses > QW 160 Viruses (General). Virology QW Microbiology and Immunology > Antigens and Antibodies. Toxins and Antitoxins > QW 570 Serology. WA Public Health > WA 105 Epidemiology WC Communicable Diseases > Virus Diseases > Viral Respiratory Tract Infections. Respirovirus Infections > WC 505 Viral respiratory tract infections WH Hemic and Lymphatic Systems > Hematologic Diseases. Immunologic Factors. Blood Banks > WH 400 Fluid elements. Plasma. Serum. Blood proteins. Blood protein disorders
Faculty: Department:	Biological Sciences > Department of Tropical Disease Biology Biological Sciences > Vector Biology Department Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-86008-5
SWORD Depositor:	JISC Pubrouter
Depositing User:	JISC Pubrouter
Date Deposited:	12 Apr 2021 09:31
Last Modified:	12 Apr 2021 09:31
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/17498

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