Two-tiered SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion screening in the Netherlands and stability of nucleocapsid, spike protein domain 1 and neutralizing antibodies

  1. Anja Garritsen
  2. Anja Scholzen
  3. Daan W. A. van den Nieuwenhof
  4. Anke P. F. Smits
  5. E. Suzan Datema
  6. Luc S. van Galen
  7. Milou L. C. E Kouwijzer

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Abstract

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  1. Version published to 10.1080/23744235.2021.1893378
  2. ScreenIT

    SciScore for 10.1101/2020.10.07.20187641: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    Institutional Review Board StatementConsent: All individuals whose data are reported in this article provided written consent to the use of pseudonymized test outcomes and of surplus serum samples for additional analyses.
    Randomizationnot detected.
    Blindingnot detected.
    Power Analysisnot detected.
    Sex as a biological variablenot detected.

    Table 2: Resources

    Antibodies
    SentencesResources
    This sample was used for measuring anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies by NCP ELISA.
    anti-SARS-CoV-2
    suggested: None
    Additionally, n=10 serum samples were purchased from ProMedDx (Norton, Massachusetts, USA; n=4 human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA); n=6 rheumatoid factor (RF)).
    anti-mouse
    suggested: None
    Software and Algorithms
    SentencesResources
    Additionally, n=10 serum samples were purchased from ProMedDx (Norton, Massachusetts, USA; n=4 human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA); n=6 rheumatoid factor (RF)).
    ProMedDx
    suggested: (ProMedDx, RRID:SCR_010542)
    Statistical analysis: Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism v8 (San Diego, CA, US).
    GraphPad Prism
    suggested: (GraphPad Prism, RRID:SCR_002798)

    Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).

    Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing limitations in the study:
    There are some limitations to our study. Firstly, it should be highlighted that our data do not reflect the seroconversion dynamics in the general population, since we encouraged individuals only to get tested if they had experienced symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Even amongst this group, the proportions of seroconversions we find are not representative for the whole of the Netherlands: Although tests were performed in almost every region of the Netherlands, the majority of tests were carried out in North Brabant (the most heavily affected area in March/April 2020) and Amsterdam. Secondly, using the specificity-focussed two-tiered serological testing approach applied here, we were bound to miss some individuals that had seroconverted. This is exacerbated over time by the fact that NCP IgG levels contract and thus an increasing proportion of individuals that show a positive result by RBD-LFA cannot be confirmed by NCP IgG ELISA. Using the sVNT in combination with the RBD-LFA for pre-screening may partially alleviate this limitation. However, seeing the high scalability of the sVNT in combination with both its high specificity and sensitivity (provided samples are collected long enough after symptom onset), it can also simply be used as a stand-alone screening tool. Thirdly, as any serological screening approach, the small proportion of individuals which fail to seroconvert [22, 66] and instead only mount a cellular immune response to SARS-CoV-2 [67] will logically not be i...

    Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.

    Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.

    Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.

    Results from rtransparent:
    • Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • No protocol registration statement was detected.

    About SciScore

    SciScore is an automated tool that is designed to assist expert reviewers by finding and presenting formulaic information scattered throughout a paper in a standard, easy to digest format. SciScore checks for the presence and correctness of RRIDs (research resource identifiers), and for rigor criteria such as sex and investigator blinding. For details on the theoretical underpinning of rigor criteria and the tools shown here, including references cited, please follow this link.

  3. Version published to 10.1101/2020.10.07.20187641v2 on medRxiv
  4. Version published to 10.1101/2020.10.07.20187641v1 on medRxiv