Sarah M. Hicks, Kai Pohl, T. Neeman, H. McNamara, Kate M. Parsons, Jin-shu He, Sidra A Ali, Samina Nazir, L. Rowntree, Thi H. O. Nguyen, K. Kedzierska, D. Doolan, Carola G. Vinueas, M. Cook, N. Coatsworth, Paul S Myles, F. Kurth, L. Sander, Graham J Mann, R. Gruen, Amee J. George, Elizabeth E. Gardiner, I. Cockburn
medRxiv, 2020
Estimates of seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies have been hampered by inadequate assay sensitivity and specificity. Using an ELISA-based approach to that combines data about IgG responses to both the Nucleocapsid and Spike-receptor binding domain antigens, we show that near-optimal sensitivity and specificity can be achieved. We used this assay to assess the frequency of virus-specific antibodies in a cohort of elective surgery patients in Australia and estimated seroprevalence in Australia to be 0.28% (0 to 0.72%). These data confirm the low level of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Australia before July 2020 and validate the specificity of our assay.
Cited by 6 publications.
Field of study: Medicine