Heat inactivation of serum interferes with the immunoanalysis of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2
Heat inactivation of serum interferes with the immunoanalysis of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2
Abstract The detection of serum antibodies to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is emerging as a new tool for the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis. Since many coronaviruses are sensitive to heat, heating inactivation of samples at 56 °C prior to testing is considered a possible method to reduce the risk of transmission, but the effect of heating on the measurement of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies is still unclear. By comparing the levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies before and after heat inactivation of serum at 56 °C for 30 minutes using a quantitative fluorescence immunochromatographic assay, we shown that heat inactivation significantly interferes with the levels of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. The IgM levels of all the 34 serum samples (100%) from COVID-19 patients decreased by an average level of 53.56%. The IgG levels were decreased in 22 of 34 samples (64.71%) by an average level of 49.54%. Similar changes can also be observed in the non-COVID-19 diseases group (n=9). Of note, 44.12% of the detected IgM levels were dropped below the cut-off value after heating, suggesting heat inactivation can lead to false-negative results of these samples. Our results indicate that heat inactivation of serum at 56 °C for 30 minutes interferes with the immunoanalysis of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Heat inactivation prior to immunoanalysis is not recommended and the possibility of false-negative results should be considered if the sample was pre-inactivated by heating.
An Taixue、Hu Yuhai、Zhang Ye、Rui Yongyu、Wang Qian、Zheng Lei、Hu Xiumei、Sun Dehua、Li Qiang、Ding Dan、He Xiaojing、Situ Bo、Tian Peifu、Ou Zihao
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Rapid Diagnostic Biosensors||Guangdong Medical Aid Team for Hubei ProvinceDepartment of Medicine Laboratory, Hankou Hospital of WuhanDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Rapid Diagnostic BiosensorsDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Rapid Diagnostic BiosensorsDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Rapid Diagnostic BiosensorsDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Rapid Diagnostic Biosensors||Guangdong Medical Aid Team for Hubei ProvinceDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Rapid Diagnostic Biosensors||Guangdong Medical Aid Team for Hubei ProvinceDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Rapid Diagnostic BiosensorsDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Rapid Diagnostic Biosensors||Guangdong Medical Aid Team for Hubei ProvinceState Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, and College of Life Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, and College of Chemistry, Nankai UniversityDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Rapid Diagnostic BiosensorsDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Rapid Diagnostic BiosensorsDepartment of Medicine Laboratory, Hankou Hospital of WuhanDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Rapid Diagnostic Biosensors
医学研究方法基础医学预防医学
An Taixue,Hu Yuhai,Zhang Ye,Rui Yongyu,Wang Qian,Zheng Lei,Hu Xiumei,Sun Dehua,Li Qiang,Ding Dan,He Xiaojing,Situ Bo,Tian Peifu,Ou Zihao.Heat inactivation of serum interferes with the immunoanalysis of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2[EB/OL].(2025-03-28)[2025-08-02].https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.12.20034231.点此复制
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