We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Self-sampling of capillary blood for SARS-CoV-2 serology.
- Authors
Brown, Lottie; Byrne, Rachel L.; Fraser, Alice; Owen, Sophie I.; Cubas-Atienzar, Ana I.; Williams, Christopher T.; Kay, Grant A.; Cuevas, Luis E.; Fitchett, Joseph R. A.; Fletcher, Tom; Garrod, Gala; Kontogianni, Konstantina; Krishna, Sanjeev; Menzies, Stefanie; Planche, Tim; Sainter, Chris; Staines, Henry M.; Turtle, Lance; Adams, Emily R.
- 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.
- Subjects
SARS-CoV-2; SEROLOGY; BLOOD sampling; IMMUNOGLOBULINS; VENOUS puncture
- Publication
Scientific Reports, 2021, Vol 11, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2045-2322
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s41598-021-86008-5