Scientists from Columbia University and Sun Yatsen University in China have developed a highly sensitive universal test for antibodies to all known coronaviruses, including mutated variants of SARS-CoV-2. This is reported in an article published in the journal Communications Biology.
Researchers have created an HCoV-Peptide chip containing three million immune markers covering proteins from all coronaviruses that infect humans. The specialists first analyzed blood samples taken from people with asymptomatic, mild or severe SARS-CoV-2 infections, as well as control groups, including healthy people and those exposed to SARS-CoV-1 and seasonal coronaviruses.
Scientists have identified 29 peptides that are specific to SARS-CoV-2 and have a high affinity for it. HCoV-Peptide has been tested with other blood samples from healthy people, COVID-19 patients, and people with antibodies to other coronaviruses. The results showed that the new approach has 98% specificity and sensitivity.