Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies in Vaccinated Pregnant Women and Neonates by Using a Lateral Flow Immunoassay Coupled with a Spectrum-Based Reader
Wei-Chun Chen,
Yen-Pin Lin,
Chao-Min Cheng,
Ching-Fen Shen,
Chang-Wei Li,
Yu-Kuo Wang,
Ting-Ying Shih,
Chitsung Hong,
Ting-Chang Chang,
Ching-Ju Shen
Affiliations
Wei-Chun Chen
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
Yen-Pin Lin
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
Chao-Min Cheng
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
Ching-Fen Shen
Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
Chang-Wei Li
AllBio Life Inc., Taichung 408, Taiwan
Yu-Kuo Wang
AllBio Life Inc., Taichung 408, Taiwan
Ting-Ying Shih
AllBio Life Inc., Taichung 408, Taiwan
Chitsung Hong
Spectrochip Inc., Hsinchu 302, Taiwan
Ting-Chang Chang
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Ching-Ju Shen
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
The focus of this study was to investigate the detection of neutralizing antibodies (Nabs) in maternal serum and cord blood as the targeted samples by employing a lateral flow immunoassay combined with a spectrum reader (LFI-SR) and the correlation of Nab protection against different types of SARS-CoV-2. We enrolled 20 pregnant women who were vaccinated with the Moderna (mRNA-1273) vaccine during pregnancy and collected 40 samples during delivery. We used an LFI-SR for the level of spike protein receptor binding domain antibody (SRBD IgG) as Nabs and examined the correlation of the SRBD IgG concentration and Nab inhibition rates (NabIR) via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The LFI-SR had high confidence for the SRBD IgG level (p p = 0.005), and 156.31 (p = 0.011) and 230.20 ng/mL (p = 0.006) for babies, respectively. An additional vaccine booster may be considered for those mothers with SRBD IgG levels < 60.15 ng/mL, and close protection should be given for those neonates with SRBD IgG levels < 150.21 ng/mL, since there is no available vaccine for them.
