Practical guidance for clinical laboratories for SARS-CoV-2 serology testing

Carmen Charlton; Jamil Kanji; Vanessa Tran; Julianne Kus; Jonathan Gubbay; Carla Osiowy; Jason Robinson; Inna Sekirov; Michael Drebot; Todd Hatchette; Derek Stein; Nadia El-Gabalawy; Amanda Lang; Lei Jiao; Paul Levett; Heidi Wood; Christian Therrien; L Robbin Lindsay; Muhammad Morshed; Jessica Forbes; Antonia Dibernardo

doi:10.14745/ccdr.v47i04a01

Canada Communicable Disease Report (Apr 2021)

Practical guidance for clinical laboratories for SARS-CoV-2 serology testing

Carmen Charlton,
Jamil Kanji,
Vanessa Tran,
Julianne Kus,
Jonathan Gubbay,
Carla Osiowy,
Jason Robinson,
Inna Sekirov,
Michael Drebot,
Todd Hatchette,
Derek Stein,
Nadia El-Gabalawy,
Amanda Lang,
Lei Jiao,
Paul Levett,
Heidi Wood,
Christian Therrien,
L Robbin Lindsay,
Muhammad Morshed,
Jessica Forbes,
Antonia Dibernardo

Affiliations

Carmen Charlton: Public Health Laboratory, Alberta Precision Laboratories, Edmonton, AB; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB; Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, Edmonton, AB
Jamil Kanji: Public Health Laboratory, Alberta Precision Laboratories, Edmonton, AB; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Vanessa Tran: Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Toronto, ON; Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Julianne Kus: Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Toronto, ON; Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Jonathan Gubbay: Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Toronto, ON; Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Carla Osiowy: National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB
Jason Robinson: Provincial Laboratory Services, Division of Clinical Chemistry, Health PEI, Charlottetown, PE
Inna Sekirov: British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, BC
Michael Drebot: National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB
Todd Hatchette: Newfoundland and Labrador Public Health Microbiology Laboratory, St. John’s, NL
Derek Stein: Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB; Cadham Provincial Laboratory, Winnipeg, MB
Nadia El-Gabalawy: National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB
Amanda Lang: Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory, Regina, SK
Lei Jiao: Newfoundland and Labrador Public Health Microbiology Laboratory, St. John’s, NL
Paul Levett: Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Heidi Wood: National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB
Christian Therrien: Laboratoire de santé publique du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Sainte-Anne-de- Bellevue, QC
L Robbin Lindsay: National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB
Muhammad Morshed: British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, BC
Jessica Forbes: Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Antonia Dibernardo: National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v47i04a01
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 47, no. 4
pp. 171 – 183

Abstract

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The landscape of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) diagnostic testing is rapidly evolving. While serology testing has limited diagnostic capacity for acute infection, its role in providing population-based information on positivity rates and informing evidence-based decision making for public health recommendations is increasing. With the global availability of vaccines, there is increasing pressure on clinical laboratories to provide antibody screening and result interpretation for vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals. Here we present the most up-to-date data on SARS-CoV-2 antibody timelines, including the longevity of antibodies, and the production and detection of neutralizing antibodies. Additionally, we provide practical guidance for clinical microbiology laboratories to both verify commercial serology assays and choose appropriate testing algorithms for their local populations.

Published in Canada Communicable Disease Report

ISSN: 1719-3109 (Print); 1481-8531 (Online)
Publisher: Public Health Agency of Canada
Country of publisher: Canada
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Infectious and parasitic diseases
Website: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/canada-communicable-disease-report-ccdr.html

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