SCALPEL (Sars-Cov-2 Antibody response in oLder PEopLe) [COVID-19]

Severe Acute Respriatory Syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains a considerable risk to high risk populations, including older adults. The humoral immune response dynamics to infection and/or immunisation in older adults remains unclear. This protocol decribes the serological methods employed in the Sars-Cov-2 Antibody response in oLder PEopLe (SCALPEL) study which aims to evaulate the humoral immune response, taking into account symptomatic and asymptomatic infection through regular weekly PCR testing supported by SARS-CoV-2 anti-nucleocapsid antibody testing, as well as response to vaccination by testing with both a commerical SARS-CoV-2 total IgG and inhouse anti-receptor binding domain double antigen binding immunoassay. Further more, antibody acitivity tested by an inhouse pseudovirus neutralisation assay, and avidity utilising an inhouse competitive ELISA, are also conducted in order to evaluate potential correlates of protection.