SARS antibody test for serosurveillance.

Abstract

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.

• Authors: Po-Ren Hsueh, Chuan-Liang Kao, Chun-Nan Lee, Li-Kuan Chen, Mei-Shang Ho, Charles Sia, Xin De Fang, Shugene Lynn, Tseng Yyuan Chang, Shi Kau Liu, Alan M Walfield, Chang Yi Wang
• Journal: Emerging infectious diseases (Emerg Infect Dis) Vol. 10 Issue 9 Pg. 1558-62 (Sep 2004) ISSN: 1080-6040 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15498156 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral

Topics

• Antibodies, Viral (blood)
• Disease Outbreaks
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (methods)
• Humans
• Population Surveillance (methods)
• Retrospective Studies
• Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (immunology)
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (diagnosis, epidemiology)