SARS antibody test for serosurveillance.
A peptide-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) can be used for retrospective serosurveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) by helping identify undetected chains of disease transmission. The assay was developed by epitope mapping, using synthetic peptides from the spike, membrane, and nucleocapsid protein sequences of SARS-associated coronavirus. The new peptide ELISA consistently detected seroconversion by week 2 of onset of fever, and seropositivity remained through day 100. Specificity was 100% on normal blood donor samples, on serum samples associated with infection by other pathogens, and on an interference panel. The peptide-based test has advantages of safety, standardization, and automation over previous immunoassays for SARS. The assay was used for a retrospective survey of healthy healthcare workers in Taiwan who treated SARS patients. Asymptomatic seroconversions were detected in two hospitals that had nosocomial disease.
Hsueh
Po-Ren
PR
National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Kao
Chuan-Liang
CL
Lee
Chun-Nan
CN
Chen
Li-Kuan
LK
Ho
Mei-Shang
MS
Sia
Charles
C
Fang
Xin De
XD
Lynn
Shugene
S
Chang
Tseng Yyuan
TY
Liu
Shi Kau
SK
Walfield
Alan M
AM
Wang
Chang Yi
CY
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral