Detection of Specific Antibodies to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Protein for Serodiagnosis of SARS Coronavirus Pneumonia

Patrick C.Y. Woo, Susanna K.P. Lau, Beatrice H.L. Wong, Hoi Wah Tsoi, Ami M.Y. Fung, Kwok Hung Chan, Victoria K.P. Tam, J. S.Malik Peiris, Kwok Yung Yuen

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Abstract

We report the evaluation of recombinant severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (SARS-CoV) nucleocapsid protein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based antibody tests for serodiagnosis of SARS-CoV pneumonia and compare the sensitivities and specificities of this ELISA for detection of immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, IgA, and their combinations with serum samples from 149 healthy blood donors who donated blood 3 years ago as controls and 106 SARS-CoV pneumonia patients in Hong Kong. The specificities of the ELISA for IgG, IgM, and IgA detection were 95.3, 96.6, and 96.6%, respectively, with corresponding sensitivities of 94.3, 59.4, and 60.4%, respectively. The present ELISA appears to be a sensitive test for serodiagnosis of SARS-CoV pneumonia, is much more economical and less labor-intensive than the indirect immunofluorescence assay, and does not require cultivation of SARS-CoV.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2306-2309
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Clinical Microbiology
Volume42
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2004
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Microbiology (medical)

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