COVID-19 Has Crystallized the Need for Effective Diagnostics at the Point-of-Need
COVID-19 Has Crystallized the Need for Effective Diagnostics at the Point-of-Need
COVID-19 Has Crystallized the Need for Effective Diagnostics at the Point-of-Need
COVID-19 Has Crystallized the Need for Effective Diagnostics at the Point-of-Need
COVID-19 Has Crystallized the Need for Effective Diagnostics at the Point-of-Need
COVID-19 Serological Antibody Testing
Multiplexed Antibody (IgM, IgG1 & IgG3) Testing
Introduction
Even now with most of the population vaccinated, some even after a ‘booster shot’, it is important to be able to regularly assess the waning of immunity in the community as well as for individuals at high risk. Offering periodical 'booster shots' to the entire population is an inefficient and unsustainable solution. Instead, we need to allow individuals at high-risk (e.g., the elderly and immune-compromised) to monitor their immunity levels and offer a ‘booster shot’ only to those who really need it. Consequently, monitoring antibody levels will remain a need as long as SARS-CoV-2 is around. This need will is addressed by affordable, widely-spread serological antibody testing.
The Challenges of Current Non-Multiplexed Antibody Tests:
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Too Many False Positives:
Antibody testing is targeting the countless number of different molecular structures, due to the fact that each person's immune-system generates different antibodies. Thus, optimizing the test to eliminate all interference is challenging. In addition, there are four strains of Coronavirus that are responsible for 'common cold' and are widely spread (~30%) in the general population. Antibodies generated by the immune system to fight these 'benign' strains, may interfere with the test due to the similarities of these strains to SARS-CoV-2.
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Too Many False Negatives:
Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are created to target one of the virus’ structural proteins (e.g. Spike protein). Coronavirus has 4 such structural proteins, so unless we detect antibodies against all 4, we will end up with false negatives.
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Our Solution – Highly Multiplexed Antibody Test which Includes:
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Detection of antibodies against all strains of Coronavirus, thus eliminating false positives by identifying antibodies that are not specific to SARS-CoV-2.
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Targeted detection of 'Neutralizing Antibodies' (e.g. antibodies against Spike Protein Receptor Binding Domain) thus providing information on the individual's immunity likelihood.
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Controls for other types of Non-Specific-Binding (NSB), thus flagging invalid/erroneous results.
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Detection of antibodies against all 4 structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2, thus eliminating False Negatives.
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Detection of all relevant Antibody Isotypes (e.g. IgM, IgG1, IgG3, IgA) thus providing a comprehensive picture of the immune system response.
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