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Self-sampling of capillary blood for SARS-CoV-2 serology

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  • Lottie Brown
  • Rachel L. Byrne
  • Alice Fraser
  • Sophie I. Owen
  • Ana I. Cubas-Atienzar
  • Christopher T. Williams
  • Grant A. Kay
  • Luis E. Cuevas
  • Joseph R.A. Fitchett
  • Tom Fletcher
  • Gala Garrod
  • Konstantina Kontogianni
  • Sanjeev Krishna
  • Stefanie Menzies
  • Tim Planche
  • Chris Sainter
  • Henry M. Staines
  • Lance Turtle
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Article number7754
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>8/04/2021
<mark>Journal</mark>Scientific Reports
Issue number1
Volume11
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Serological testing is emerging as a powerful tool to progress our understanding of COVID-19 exposure, transmission and immune response. Large-scale testing is limited by the need for in-person blood collection by staff trained in venepuncture, and the limited sensitivity of lateral flow tests. Capillary blood self-sampling and postage to laboratories for analysis could provide a reliable alternative. Two-hundred and nine matched venous and capillary blood samples were obtained from thirty nine participants and analysed using a COVID-19 IgG ELISA to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Thirty eight out of thirty nine participants were able to self-collect an adequate sample of capillary blood (≥ 50 µl). Using plasma from venous blood collected in lithium heparin as the reference standard, matched capillary blood samples, collected in lithium heparin-treated tubes and on filter paper as dried blood spots, achieved a Cohen’s kappa coefficient of > 0.88 (near-perfect agreement, 95% CI 0.738–1.000). Storage of capillary blood at room temperature for up to 7 days post sampling did not affect concordance. Our results indicate that capillary blood self-sampling is a reliable and feasible alternative to venepuncture for serological assessment in COVID-19.

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Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).